Jaffna Culinary Heritage

Explore Jaffna’s culinary culture and meet local people who uphold traditional practices to immerse yourself in the region’s rich culture and flavours.

Begin your journey by witnessing the traditional process of sesame oil extraction. Seeds are sun-dried and then crushed by wooden presses – an age-old method that preserves the seeds’ flavour and nutrients.

Next, visit a family-run pottery site and learn how to craft your unique piece using centuries-old techniques passed down through generations. Your friendly hosts will guide you through the process before drying and firing it, ready to use for a communal lunch using your extracted sesame oil and brand-new, crafted pottery.

What you’ll do

• Watch traditional sesame oil extraction using ancient wooden presses
• Visit a family pottery workshop and craft your own clay piece
• Engage with locals preserving Jaffna’s cultural and culinary traditions