Ella Spice Garden Cooking Class
Ella Spice Garden Cooking Class
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Ella Spice Garden Cooking Class is a unique experience that you can enjoy while you visit Ella town. Our program begins with a spice garden tour with an attractive explanation about the spices we use in our Sri Lankan cousin. After tasting a taste bud awakening spice tea we begin our Sri Lankan cooking session. We try to make it really interesting and enthusiastic so you will involve in different hands-on activities and funny competitions with other candidates. We give you a real insight into the history of Sri Lankan cooking and the different utensils used. you will get a recipe book which you will use to write down small tips and ingredient quantities used for our cooking. We will make Rice , Roti , and some mouth-watering Currys with hands-on activities for all the participants later you can enjoy the taste of Sri Lankan authentic spicy meal.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Ella Spice Garden Cooking Class and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
166 within 3 miles
Attractions
30 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- JamieBTWManchester, United Kingdom24 contributionsGreat experienceWe visited late afternoon to take a tour of the spice garden. The guide was the cutest old man who gave us a private tour and told us lots about his garden and the spices. We brought lots to take home with us!🙏🏻Written November 18, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 8, 2023
- Honigbienchen071 contributionMust-do in Ella!Highly recommended! Very friendly people, both the tour of the in-house spice garden and the cooking course were conducted in perfect English. The dishes were delicious and everything was explained in a very entertaining way. We prepared a variety of dishes, and if you've never had garlic curry before - it tastes fantastic. Great atmosphere, everyone had a lot of fun. Photos were taken automatically by the team, we didn't have to worry about it. You can also buy tea and spices there at a very reasonable price. Thank you for a wonderful evening!Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻Written February 21, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 25, 2024
- KG41 contributionsBest evening activityWe love our cooking class. Theeka was a great host and brought a lot of humour and knowledge. We enjoyed the tour of the gardens and learning more about the spices we'd be using. We took turns in, making dishes and meant everyone got involved in the processes of the dishes made. Afterward, we got to taste our efforts. The food choices for the course meant we got to try some more unusual dishes, all of which were very nice. After the course we were what'sapp the ebook which has smaller portion size instructions go along with the paper book from the class.Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻Written February 21, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten January 31, 2024
- MiaBokmarkGothenburg, Sweden30 contributionsFantastiskt astic lesson in Sri Lankan cooking with great resultsAfter a tour of the herb garden with great explainations to each herb and spice we had a fun and enlightening lesson in Sri Lankan cooking. Easy recipies to follow with fantasic results which we all shared for lunch. Book well in advance as seats are limited and popularThanks a lotWritten March 9, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 27, 2024
- Anandi T9 contributionsFun, lovely host, lots of group workGreat host and it was lovely to tour the spice garden. The session was fun and went by quickly. However, I expected it to be more hands on. In fact you only get to do a bit of stirring or putting ingredients into a pan to contribute to dishes for the whole group rather than testing and trying your own individual cooking skills. So I was disappointed in that, but maybe I should have checked the reviews in more detail first and wondered why the price point is good compared to other cooking classes. It was still a good experience though and the host sends an ebook afterwards so it is still good value for money.Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻👨🍳Written May 27, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 19, 2024
- Susan WPerth, Australia9 contributionsFabulous cooking experienceTheeka took us on an informative tour of his spice garden. We were treated to an amazing cooking experience and are still talking about to our friends. What we got from the cooking class was recipes we could make at home and have made many times since coming home and an appreciation for Sri Lankan food. Theeka is a great teacher and we had a fun time sharing his food. We highly recommend his cooking class.Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻👨🍳Written May 27, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 25, 2024
- MarissaGermany116 contributionsMust!!!If you don‘t book a cooking lession with Theeka and his team - it‘s your own fault! Recommendation: 💯 An all-round successful evening with so many nice and interesting people - in addition to the fantastic spices and dishes, of course. Big thanks ❤️ we felt in love…Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻👨🍳Written May 27, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 26, 2024
- helandal2016Fleet, United Kingdom27 contributionsCookery Class in EllaWe booked an afternoon cookery class with Theeka and his fantastic crew and were not disappointed. It was definitely an interactive experience giving us plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Our host was really good fun with a great knowledge base of not just Sri Lankan but also international cuisine making portion sizes for the ingredients which we were introduced to relevant for the different nationalities participating in the class. After cooking several dishes we were able to enjoy a lovely vegan meal. The textures, tastes and smells of this feast were amazing. Hygiene, Health and Safety compliant which always ticks the box! One of the highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Theeka 🙏🏽🙏🏽Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻👨🍳Written May 27, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Traveled with familyWritten May 15, 2024
- SteveWheelers Hill, Australia22 contributionsFun, insightful and tasty afternoon in EllaTheeka hosted a fantastic cooking class for us during the afternoon. Included a tour of the spice garden on site, a cup of tea and then cooking 5-6 traditional Sri Lankan dishes. We finished with enjoying the food we cooked all together - a great afternoon. We were a group of 12 (6 groups of two, couples or friends) all around 30 years old. We were able to book on the day via WhatsApp message, and the location is fantastic relative to Ella Centre (5 mins walk from Cafe Chill) I would definitely recommmed to friends or family wanting a unique, affordable and fun experience in EllaThanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻👨🍳Written May 27, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 22, 2024
- Tamara Z1 contributionBest vegan/veggie cooking classAmazing and very fun cooking class! We learned so much about Sri Lankan Spices and dishes and enjoyed the class and the dinner! True value for money - we can only recommend this place if you think about taking a cooking class. Especially if you‘re vegetarian/vegan as this is an all-plant based class showing you the amazing variety of Sri Lankan veggie meals. We cooked Dhal/Curry, Rotti and more.Thanks a lot 🙏🏻Written August 14, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 7, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
625 reviews
Excellent
443
Very good
113
Average
39
Poor
20
Terrible
10
Suzanne G
48 contributions
Feb 2023
Theeka was a great host and explained techniques and ingredients in detail. He kept in contact regarding the booking so I knew what was happening. It was a good mixture of demonstration, explanation and hands-on as well as advice on how to adapt some of the fresh ingredients when at home. Theeka is genuinely enthusiastic about what he does which in turn makes it really enjoyable for his visitors. Before we had finished eating what we had cooked, he had sent over the e-book of recipes, plus some extra ones he thought we might like and photos he had taken. Definitely recommend when you're in Ella.
Written February 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot mam 🙏🏻
Written February 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa20 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
I booked and confirmed this cooking class with the host 2 months in advance and was very excited to attend. We arrived the evening of the class to find out the host had forgotten our booking and the class was now full so we had to leave. The host was nice and apologised but we were very disappointed and would encourage others to double check their bookings and the host to prioritise advanced bookings.
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’m really sorry for the inconvenience caused. We don’t have an online booking system so we take our customers bookings tentatively on WhatsApp, when they arrive in Ella they should confirm it to us so we can accommodate them for the session on the day , we can only accommodate up to 12 guests in our kitchen and we can’t afford to keep the booking open until the guest randomly shows at our place, we get fully booked someday s and when the guests don’t show up we have to run at a loss , this happens to us frequently so we have to get the booking confirmation several times on WhatsApp for us to confirm it , Im really sorry about the inconvenience caused and hope you understand my situation.
Written August 26, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Honigbienchen07
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
Highly recommended! Very friendly people, both the tour of the in-house spice garden and the cooking course were conducted in perfect English.
The dishes were delicious and everything was explained in a very entertaining way.
We prepared a variety of dishes, and if you've never had garlic curry before - it tastes fantastic.
Great atmosphere, everyone had a lot of fun. Photos were taken automatically by the team, we didn't have to worry about it.
You can also buy tea and spices there at a very reasonable price.
Thank you for a wonderful evening!
The dishes were delicious and everything was explained in a very entertaining way.
We prepared a variety of dishes, and if you've never had garlic curry before - it tastes fantastic.
Great atmosphere, everyone had a lot of fun. Photos were taken automatically by the team, we didn't have to worry about it.
You can also buy tea and spices there at a very reasonable price.
Thank you for a wonderful evening!
Written January 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻
Written February 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Zoe
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • Couples
We did the tour of the garden in Ella & it was lovely. It was just the two of us and a bargain entry price to walk around the garden and have everything explained to us about cooking and how to grow such a variety if vegetables, spices and fruits.
A lovely way to spend an hour & the gift shop is all homemade spice packages for the best prices in Ella.
A lovely way to spend an hour & the gift shop is all homemade spice packages for the best prices in Ella.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks 🙏
Written April 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charlotte
6 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Really good tour of an enthusiastic local who's got a huge garden and grows all spices, herbs, fruit and vegetables. For anyone interested in learning where spices come from and how they are made, I would definitely give this a go. Very cheap only 200RS per person and then all spices in his little shop are made by him and his family.
Written February 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks and love to have you again if you visit Sri Lanka
Written March 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tamara Z
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Couples
Amazing and very fun cooking class! We learned so much about Sri Lankan Spices and dishes and enjoyed the class and the dinner! True value for money - we can only recommend this place if you think about taking a cooking class. Especially if you‘re vegetarian/vegan as this is an all-plant based class showing you the amazing variety of Sri Lankan veggie meals. We cooked Dhal/Curry, Rotti and more.
Written July 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot 🙏🏻
Written August 14, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mayac9222
5 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
Such an amazing experience- I really recommend! Theeka‘s skill and passion for Sri Lankan cuisine shone through and the class was informative and entertaining. The food was absolutely delicious, really enjoyed the whole experience. Thank you
Written March 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot 🙏🏻
Written March 22, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
M0bbsy
London, UK1 contribution
Jan 2020
Firstly, I thought the host was a nice chap - he was well spoken and took the time to answer questions. Also, the end meal was tasty and there was plenty of it to go around.
However, that's where the positivity stops I'm afraid. We spent 3.5 hours standing around a single workstation in a mosquito infested kitchen, watching him cook whilst 8 people took turns doing very rudimentary tasks, such as peeling garlic, taking it in turns to stir a single pot, and writing pointless repetitive numbers in a booklet, which I can only assume was to try and distract us from the lack of cooking (it didn't work).
Really not sure how this gets such positive reviews - I can only assume those people who liked it have never actually partaken in a proper cooking class before, where you get to.... cook.
However, that's where the positivity stops I'm afraid. We spent 3.5 hours standing around a single workstation in a mosquito infested kitchen, watching him cook whilst 8 people took turns doing very rudimentary tasks, such as peeling garlic, taking it in turns to stir a single pot, and writing pointless repetitive numbers in a booklet, which I can only assume was to try and distract us from the lack of cooking (it didn't work).
Really not sure how this gets such positive reviews - I can only assume those people who liked it have never actually partaken in a proper cooking class before, where you get to.... cook.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anandi T
9 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Great host and it was lovely to tour the spice garden. The session was fun and went by quickly. However, I expected it to be more hands on. In fact you only get to do a bit of stirring or putting ingredients into a pan to contribute to dishes for the whole group rather than testing and trying your own individual cooking skills. So I was disappointed in that, but maybe I should have checked the reviews in more detail first and wondered why the price point is good compared to other cooking classes. It was still a good experience though and the host sends an ebook afterwards so it is still good value for money.
Written March 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot 🥰🙏🏻👨🍳
Written May 27, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
amgilly
Surrey, United Kingdom5 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
This was one of the highlights of our trip in Sri Lanka. The course started with a tour of the gardens where we learned about all the spices and key ingredients for Sri Lanka curries. Then we cooked. The area for cooking was spotless, the guys who helped Theeka in the background were fabulous and v discreet and attentive, completing details on recipes in our books when we were cooking. Theeka himself was a fantastic chef. The food was amazing. Highly recommend this. We loved it as an adult family activity Steve, Anna, Archie and Zack
Written October 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hallo, where can i buy tickets for the Ella Spice Garden Cooking Class?
Thanks, Magdalena :)
Written July 20, 2024
You can WhatsApp us on +94757666999
Written August 15, 2024
Does anyone have the garlic curry recipe. Hoping to give it another go.
Cheers!
Written May 4, 2020
Will send you the recipe , extremely sorry for the delay in responding. If you could WhatsApp me on ±94757666999we could easily share it with you.
Written March 23, 2022
Please visit us once you arrive in Ella ot WhatsApp us on ±94777768532
Written April 10, 2022
Hi - does anyone have the recipe website we were given at the end? I've lost it and really want to cook some recipes!
Written April 20, 2019
It was "Sri Lankan recipes (.) info" (obviously without all the spaces)
Written April 22, 2019
anny82
Koblenz, Germany
Hey, 6 weeks ago we stay at your place for cooking lesson. It was fully booked, so you send us to Lizzie Villa Guesthouse. It was very nice but we still waiting for the recipes. Is it possible to send us ? We like to cook it in Germany ;-) Anna and Martin
Written February 12, 2019
Will send you a copy of our recipe book , if possible send me a WhatsApp message on ±94757666999. Thanks and sorry for the delay in responding 😊
Written March 23, 2022
How can I book a cooking class on 25 Feb 2019 for two people - dinner?
Written February 10, 2019
Pop by the day before (or earlier if possible) and book in person. We booked the day before and there was still availablity
Written February 10, 2019
Hey, is there any way to book this without going in person? We're only in Ella for 1 night, would the hotel do it for you ?
Written January 24, 2019
Ask your hotel, it should be about 12.50 € per person. Prepaiment should be OK as this is a lot of money in Sri Lanka and traveller's often do not show up.
Written January 25, 2019
How do I make a reservation for the cooking class? I don’t seem to find any contact I formation.
Written December 4, 2018
Hi,
we also just showed up the day before and booked the class. There is a phone number but he won't make reservations without receiving payment so you need to be there in person.
Written January 2, 2019
Good morning! Can i contact you via mail? Could you please give me email? Thank you
Written November 28, 2018
Hi I never did go to Spice garden after all. Jan
Written December 4, 2018
We have a small window to tour the spice garden. Does any one know what time they open?
Written September 26, 2018
The garden itself isn't worth the detour it's a 2 minute tour. Although if you have an evening you should take the cooking class with the owner !
Written September 26, 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 30
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing