The Southern Province has its own distinct food tradition. Some foods can only be found in this province. Among many such uncommon foods found in the Southern part of the country, Sini Wadikku is an exotic food which can also be categorised as a drink. This delicacy is also known as Pani Wadikku and Sini Wadichchi by Southerners.
As per Nelka who is a resident of Sinigama in the Galle district, in the past Sini Wadikku had been a tidbit enjoyed by a small group of people living in the coastal areas in Galle. “Sini Wadikku had not been a popular drink among all the people in the Southern coastal area in antiquity. It was popular only among a small group of people belonging to a particular cast. Later, however, this had spread across the coastal areas in Galle”, she said.
Surprisingly though, Sini Wadikku failed to reach the connoisseurs of food beyond a few villages in the Southern coastal belt.
Nelka said that Sini Wadikku cannot be of Sri Lankan origin due to its strange name and it might have been introduced to Sri Lanka from another country. “I have no clear idea of the origin of Sini Wadikku. But, I am sure it had been introduced to the Southern coastal belt by some foreigners,” she said.
Considering the name and the areas where Sini Wadikku is popular, surmises can be raised that it had been introduced to Sri Lanka by a group of people from another Asian country.
Popular drink
Sini Wadikku had been a popular drink in areas such as Ratgama, Sinigama, and Galle. The majority of the youth in these areas is not aware of Sini Wadikku. Elderly people in those areas still reminisce how they used to enjoy Sini Wadikku those days, which has now gone into oblivion.
Sini Wadikku is prepared using tender coconut. Coconut trees are abundant in coastal areas. Hence, it can be said that due to the high availability of tender coconut in the coastal areas the delicacy had been enjoyed often.
In modern days, Peni Wadikku is prepared using tender coconut, Batar Viskothu, sugar and a red drink or fruit juice such as watermelon. Sini Wadikku is delicious to taste and also provides instant energy. Due to the ingredients used and the way of preparation, this drink is lightly intoxicating. The Batar Viskothu or Hulan Viskothu is prepared using yeast and when it is mixed with coconut water and sugar and left to be reacted for about half an hour, it produces a slight alcohol content which makes Sini Wadikku little intoxicating.
As Nelka said, Sini Wadikku had been prepared in the past in a different manner. “The Sini Wadikkuwe is made today differently from its traditional recipe. My father used to prepare this often for us when we were small. He never used red drink or watermelon to colour the drink. My grandmother prepared Sini Wadikku differently. She used Habala Pethi (flattened rice) and treacle. Nowadays Batar Viskothu is used in place of Habala Pethi and sugar instead of treacle,” Nelka said.
Today’s food enthusiasts have given Peni Wadikku or Sini Wadichchian attractive bright red colour. The drink is given this red colour either using a sugary cola drink or watermelon juice. However, the delicacy becomes more healthful if watermelon juice is used instead of colas or sugary colourful drinks which are laden with sugar, artificial colours and preservatives.
Energy drink
Ethnomedical practitioner Dr. Palitha Sri Geegana Arachchige said that Sini Wadikku had been the energy drink of hard-working southerners who dwelled in coastal areas.
“Due to the chemical reactions of the ingredients used in the preparation of Sini Wadikku, this has a negligible intoxication. The tender coconut water, the kernel and the watermelon contain a high nutrition content. Those ingredients as well as sugar provide instant energy. Sini Wadichchi also provides electrolytes and instantly hydrates the body. Hence, this is ideal for hardworking people to restore their lost electrolytes and hydration while giving instant energy. The starch in Batar Viskothu also provides energy. Batar Viskothu and tender coconut kernel alleviate hunger. So, this van be called an energising meal,” Dr. Geegana Arachchige said.
Preparing Sini Wadikku
Ingredients
A tender coconut
Batar Viskothu
Sugar
Water melon juice - 2 cups
Method
Remove the upper part of the tender coconut. Transfer its water to another container. Scrape the tender kernel inside and leave them inside the coconut shell itself. Then add one or two tablespoons of sugar depending on the size of the tender coconut. Break some Batar Viskothu into the tender coconut shell. Extract watermelon juice without adding water. Add watermelon juice and the tender coconut water which is in another container, into the tender coconut shell. Mix well, close and leave aside for half an hour.
After half an hour, we can see that bubbles have formed in the mixture. That is due to the chemical reaction of the ingredients. This makes Sini Wadikku slightly intoxicating.
Using a spoon, you can now taste Sini Wadikku.
When making Peni Wadikku in the traditional way, Habala Pethi and treacle can be used. That too has a distinct taste.
This is super easy to make, highly nutritious, slightly intoxicating and provides instant energy.