Ceylon Tea, Kottu and Vadai take centre stage at FAO exhibition in Italy

Sri Lanka’s world-renowned Ceylon Tea and popular street foods, including Kottu and Parippu Vadai, attracted significant attention at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Global Exhibition, “From Seeds to Foods”, held in Rome, Italy, from October 8 to 12, 2026.

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Rome, the exhibition, held at the historic Circo Massimo as part of the FAO80+1 celebrations, attracted approximately 21,000 visitors from around the world.

Ceylon Tea was a key highlight of Sri Lanka’s participation, with a dedicated stall at the Asia and the Pacific Regional Pavilion offering visitors an opportunity to experience its distinctive flavours and learn about Sri Lanka’s tea heritage.

A special Ceylon Tea tasting session, organized in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tea Board on October 8, drew considerable interest from visitors.

Sri Lankan street food also took centre stage, with live cooking demonstrations by Chef Praveen Fernando of La Perla Dell’ Asia in Rome, featuring Parippu Vadai and Kottu served alongside Ceylon Tea.

The Kottu demonstration held on October 11 attracted large crowds, with visitors gathering to taste the popular Sri Lankan dish.

Speaking at the event, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Italy Satya Rodrigo described Kottu as a symbol of the country’s diverse culinary traditions.

“Kottu is our street food symphony. You hear the rhythm of the blades before you taste it, and it brings together the flavours of all our communities on one plate,” the Ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan students from the academy of Chanchala Bulathwatta performed a traditional dance titled “Rhythm of Harvest” on October 9, showcasing Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage to an international audience.

The exhibition, organized by the FAO alongside the World Food Forum under the theme “Fostering Innovation for Food Security and Nutrition”, featured six regional pavilions highlighting food traditions, agricultural practices and food security initiatives from across the world.

The Embassy stated that Sri Lanka’s participation was supported by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Export Development Board, as part of efforts to promote Sri Lankan products, cuisine and cultural traditions internationally. (Newswire)

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