KITHUL PALM OF SRI LANKA

KIHTUL TREE

Kitul tree is a palm tree found in many parts of Sri Lanka having the botanical name (Caryota Urens). It is similar to the coconut palm but not commercially grown as the coconut. The tree was used by the villagers to manufacture treacle, sweet type of honey, and toddy an alcoholic beverage. At one time the owners of kitul tree had to get the government permit to tap and collect sap from their own trees. The reason was that many used the sap mainly to manufacture toddy and arrack which are alcoholic drinks. However it is safer than the locally produced moonshine illicit liquor known as “kassipu”. In certain areas Kitul trees are felled and fed to elephants in captivity. However now it has taken a unique place in the economy of the central province or elsewhere where the palm grows. Kitul grows on ranges of 5000 feet and above. It also grows on Himalayas, Nepal, Assam, and India in addition to Sri Lanka.

FLOWER OF KITHUL TREE

In the ancient days Kitul had a place in society where the sap from the unopened flower was used as a fermented drink, and also to make treacle which is a sweetened form of honey and Jaggery the hardened form of honey. The treacle is used in the making of sweet meats like “Aluwa” ,”Kewun”, “Welithalapa” , which are delicacies.

Jaggery is taken with tea of coffee instead of sugar. You need to be an expert to tap the sap from the kitul trees. You have prepare the flower before opening, and introduce some medicinal herbs into a cavity made in the young flower, before opening up to get more sap. It is needed to have 8 bottles of sap to make one bottle of treacle or honey. It is turned into treacle by boiling the sap on a low fire for several hours. The treacle is used as a supplement to curd and yogurt.

FEMALE KITHUL TAPPER

With the gradual increase in the standard of education, tappers of kitul trees waned away and there were no tappers for this task. The tapper has to climb the tree twice a day to collect the sap. This is a difficult task.

ORNAMENTS FROM KITHUL WOOD

Though not grown commercially, Kitul tree is found is found in Kandyan home gardens. The wood of the kitul tree is valuable as it is hard and insects such as termites do not attack the wood. House hold items and ornaments are made from kitul wood. A rod of kitul with a circular diameter of 5-6 cm and 150cm long is used to pound rice, and other cereals. Wooden spoons made of kitul is used in the kitchen . Market for kitul products is a problem and the manufactures have to find buyers on their own. Because the products are limited and big marketing enterprises do not handle it. Support for such products has come from Sri Lanka German Economic strategy sport program me. The main task of the enterprise is to bring the manufacturer, product, the seller and buyer.