The Sweet Secret of Sri Lanka’s Forests: UNESCO Recognizes Kithul Madeema

COLOMBO (News 1st); UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee has inscribed Kithul Madeema — the ancient art of kithul tapping — onto its esteemed Representative List for 2025. This recognition shines a global spotlight on a time-honored indigenous technology practiced in rural Sri Lankan villages, where nature, skill, and culture unite in every drop of sap.

Far from factory floors, this tradition unfolds high among the towering kithul palms native to Sri Lanka’s forests and home gardens. Skilled villagers climb ladders, embrace the palm flower stalk with natural vines, and delicately raise the sacred tapping knife—a tool passed down through generations—to coax forth the precious sap. This daily ritual is not only a measure of expert craftsmanship but also a sacred act deeply woven into community life.

From the sap, villagers patiently produce kithul treacle — a honey-like syrup slowly boiled to perfection. Yet this isn’t the end: the sap’s transformative journey continues into jaggery blocks, rich vinegar, and even traditional beverages, each carrying the flavor of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage.

This UNESCO inscription preserves the story of how generations have harmonized with nature, turning humble palms into an emblem of identity, resilience, and sustainable living. It invites the world to savor a uniquely Sri Lankan legacy — one sip, one drizzle at a time.