Quick answer
Strawberry farms in Nuwara Eliya grow fruit in the cool climate around the town, at about 1,800 to 1,900 metres, mostly in polytunnels on the roads towards Ambewela, Kandapola and Hakgala. Many welcome visitors to see the plants and sell strawberries fresh, with cream, as milkshakes or dipped in chocolate. Fruit is available for much of the year, with the most plentiful supply usually in the drier months. A stop takes 20 to 40 minutes. Wash loose fruit in bottled water before eating.
Key takeaways
- Almost all of Sri Lanka's strawberries are grown in the cool hills around Nuwara Eliya.
- Many Nuwara Eliya strawberry farms grow fruit in polytunnels, which protect plants from rain and extend the season.
- Strawberry farms near Nuwara Eliya sell fruit fresh, with cream, as milkshakes and as jam.
- A strawberry farm stop near Nuwara Eliya usually takes 20 to 40 minutes.
- Fruit bought loose at Nuwara Eliya roadside stalls should be washed in bottled water before eating.
Why Nuwara Eliya grows strawberries
Nuwara Eliya grows strawberries because they need cool nights and mild days, which the lowlands cannot provide. At about 1,890 metres, the plants thrive, and farmers around the town have grown them commercially for decades. Polytunnels protect the fruit from heavy rain and mist.
Nuwara Eliya's strawberries are a small industry but a well-loved one. Sri Lankan visitors buy them by the box to take home, hotels serve them at breakfast and afternoon tea, and bakeries use them in cakes. Most visitors find them sweet and fragrant, if smaller than supermarket varieties.
Where to find strawberry farms
Strawberry farms around Nuwara Eliya sit mostly on the roads out of town: towards Ambewela and Pattipola, towards Kandapola, and on the Badulla road near Hakgala and Sita Eliya. Several have cafés or tasting counters and are signed from the road.
Strawberry farms near Nuwara Eliya vary from small family plots to larger commercial operations with polytunnels and visitor shops. Your driver will know which are open and which grow under cover. In April, the busiest farms near the town can have queues.
- →Ambewela road: farms on the way to the dairy country.
- →Badulla road: farms near Hakgala and Sita Eliya.
- →Kandapola road: quieter family farms.
What a visit involves
A visit to a Nuwara Eliya strawberry farm usually means a short walk through the polytunnels to see the plants, a few words on how they are grown and then a seat at the café. Some farms let visitors pick their own fruit in season, priced by weight; others do the picking for you.
Nuwara Eliya's strawberry cafés serve fruit with cream, strawberry milkshakes, waffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries and jam. Prices are low by international standards. The stop suits families and anyone who wants a break on the drive between Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains.
- →Time needed: 20 to 40 minutes.
- →What to try: strawberries with cream, a milkshake, jam to take away.
- →Picking: ask whether it is offered on the day.
When the strawberries are best
Strawberries are available around Nuwara Eliya for much of the year, especially from farms using polytunnels. Supply is usually most plentiful in the drier months, and quality dips after long spells of heavy rain. In April, demand from holidaying Sri Lankans is highest.
Nuwara Eliya's strawberry supply depends on the weather, so a farm may be short of fruit after a wet week. If strawberries matter to you, ask your hotel which farms have fruit before driving out. Lankan Stays & Trails usually fits a farm stop into the drive to Horton Plains or Ambewela.
- →Drier months: most plentiful fruit.
- →April: busiest farms, longer queues.
- →After heavy rain: smaller harvests.
Buying and eating fruit safely
Buying strawberries in Nuwara Eliya is safe with a little care. Fruit from farms with clean cafés is generally fine to eat as served. Fruit bought loose from roadside stalls should be washed in bottled water, because farms use irrigation water and sprays.
Nuwara Eliya's strawberries are soft and do not travel well. Buy what you will eat within a day, keep the box out of the sun on the drive and avoid packing fruit in luggage. Jam travels far better, sealed in a jar.
- →Wash loose fruit in bottled water.
- →Eat within a day of buying.
- →Take jam home rather than fresh fruit.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you find strawberry farms in Nuwara Eliya?
Strawberry farms in Nuwara Eliya are found mainly on the roads out of town: towards Ambewela and Pattipola, towards Kandapola, and on the Badulla road near Hakgala. Many have cafés and are signed from the road. Drivers know which are open.
Can you pick strawberries in Nuwara Eliya?
Some farms around Nuwara Eliya allow visitors to pick strawberries in season, paying by weight. Others pick for you and sell boxes at the café. Picking depends on the day's crop, so ask at the farm or check with your hotel first.
When is strawberry season in Nuwara Eliya?
Strawberries are available in Nuwara Eliya for much of the year, thanks to polytunnels. The most plentiful supply usually comes in the drier months, and harvests can dip after heavy rain. April is the busiest month at the farms.
Are Nuwara Eliya strawberries safe to eat?
Nuwara Eliya strawberries are generally safe to eat when served at a farm café. Fruit bought loose at roadside stalls should be washed in bottled water first. Eat strawberries within a day, as they spoil quickly in warm cars.
Do strawberries grow anywhere else in Sri Lanka?
Strawberries grow mainly in the cool hills around Nuwara Eliya, with small amounts in other high areas such as Welimada and Bandarawela. The lowlands are too hot. Strawberries sold elsewhere in Sri Lanka are usually brought down from the Nuwara Eliya district.
How long does a strawberry farm visit take?
A strawberry farm visit near Nuwara Eliya usually takes 20 to 40 minutes: a short walk through the polytunnels and a stop at the café. Allow longer in April, when the most popular farms have queues.