When I was growing up in Sri Lanka, masks weren’t decorations — they were alive with colour, story, and spirit. In my Christian home they were forbidden, but I was captivated by how they turned fear into art and chaos into beauty. Years later, I realised food does the same thing — every spice blend tells a story, every curry a ritual. Through Little Big Flavour Kits, I’m sharing that same storytelling tradition — unmasking culture, memory, and joy one dish at a time.
Stories
Vesak in Sri Lanka: The Nights the Trees Started Glowing
There are some memories that don't arrive as thoughts. They arrive as colour. When I think about Vesak in Sri Lanka, I don't remember dates or meanings first. I don't...
Wishing you a joyful, flavour-filled New Year. සුභ නව වසරක් වේවා | புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துகள்
Every year, around April there is a subtle shift in me.A pull towards something familiar. Something rooted. A spring clean of the house and a idea of a new year...
Sri Lankan Mustard Prawn Ramen Bowl
Who said ramen had to stay in Japan? This bowl took a very delicious detour to Sri Lanka.
Why We Love Lentils: Sri Lankan Comfort, Flavour. Easy Home Cooking
There's something magical about the smell of lentils simmering away in a pot. That earthy, comforting aroma that fills the kitchen and somehow makes everything feel right with the world....
Frozen Veg Vs Fresh: Why Your Freezer Is Your Best Friend for Authentic Sri Lankan Flavours
Here's a confession: some of my most memorable vegetable curries have been made with vegetables straight from the freezer. Not fresh from the market, not hand-picked from a garden, but...
My favourite Sri Lankan food (කැමතිම කෑම)...
My favourite Sri Lankan food (කැමතිම කෑම)... by Aliza Patell Ratnayaka I'm an unapologetic foodie, here i've compiled the list of things I eat when I go back to Lanka....
Cardamom: How to Use the Queen of Spices in Sri Lankan Cooking- and a cooling lime juice how to
Discover how Sri Lankans use cardamom in curries and drinks. Learn the best ways to cook with this fragrant spice and try a refreshing lime juice recipe.
Avurudu Vibes: Sweet Treats, Family Feasting, and the Joy of Sri Lanka’s Real New Year
In my late teens, I went to live with my uncle, who was Muslim, and my aunt, who was Buddhist. I’d grown up Christian — so between us, it was...
In celebration of people who make home feel like home.
In Sri Lanka, we don’t really “do” Mother’s Day the way the West does. No beautiful bunches of flowers, no fancy brunches. But here’s the thing: Mums are celebrated in...
Why Little Big Flavour Kits Are the Best for Gut Health and Immunity
You know when food just tastes better? When spices are actually fragrant or a tomato bursts with flavour? That’s not nostalgia—it’s nutrient density. Read more about it on my blog...
Little changers…
Well, the new year is here, and somehow, we’re already halfway through January! The grey skies, the lack of sunlight, and the return to routines after the sparkle of the holidays—it can all feel a bit much, can’t it? But I’m trying to see it as a chance for fresh starts, little changes, and moments that can brighten these shorter days.
