A speciality is basic curry, made with coconut milk, sliced onion, green chilli, aromatic spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron and aromatic leaves. Stringhoppers are steamed circlets of rice flour, a little more delicate than noodles or spaghetti. Jaggery is a fudge made from the crystallised sap of the kitul palm. The durian fruit is considered a great delicacy. Tea is the national drink and thought to be amongst the best in the world.
Some Colombo hotels have supper clubs with music for dancing.
There are theatres in Colombo, cinemas showing films from the USA, ballet, concerts and theatre productions. Also cane baskets, straw hats, reed mats and tea. Some of the masks, which are used in dance-dramas, in processions and on festival days, can be bought by tourists. Versions produced for the tourist market are often of a high standard. Sri Lanka is also rich in gems.