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Are the Matale spice gardens authentic or just tourist traps.

Asked about 14 hours agoViewed 1225 times
A
Arlo AU.•295 rep•1
asked about 14 hours ago

Several spice gardens along the Kandy to Dambulla road offer free tours. Are these experiences genuinely educational or are they just pushy sales pitches for overpriced herbal products.

35
asked about 14 hours ago
A
Arlo AU.•295 rep•1

2 Answers

✓Accepted Answer

The Matale spice gardens are genuinely educational and showcase real growing conditions for cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, vanilla, and many medicinal herbs. However the free guided tours always conclude with a visit to the on site shop where the real sales pitch happens. The products sold are usually of good quality but significantly overpriced compared to regular markets in Kandy or Colombo.

34
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answered about 14 hours ago
M
Malith D.•5940 rep•1

If you want to enjoy the garden tour without feeling pressured simply decline politely when offered the herbal product consultation at the end. A quick fifteen minute walk through the garden to learn about the plants is genuinely worth your time. Buy your spices later at the Dambulla wholesale market for roughly one third of the spice garden prices.

12
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answered about 14 hours ago
P
Prabath K.•4430 rep•1

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