The old saying ‘You are what you eat’ is held in high regard at Hurawalhi Maldives and the organic garden is testament to it. Executive Chef Warren creates his mouthwatering dishes with local produce wherever possible and it doesn’t get more local than your own back yard! The gardens of Hurawalhi are nurtured with inspiration and a love of nature by Bandara, our Landscaping Manager who has been at Hurawalhi since May 2016, when he first started planning the resort’s gardens before it opened in December of the same year.

Bandara trained at Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya and gained 20 years of experience in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Qatar. It is Bandara and his team who can be applauded for the beauty of the natural surroundings, tending not only the fruit and vegetables our guests enjoy at the buffet, but also the flowers that decorate the tables and beds. The island’s conservation is his responsibility too, including protection of the indigineous plants which comprise over 70% of Hurawalhi’s flora.

The organic garden is constantly evolving with new seeds being regularly planted and the produce incorporated into the menus. A huge variety of herbs, vegetables and fruit, including the iconic Maldives’ coconuts are successfully grown and ensure a range of healthy options are always available. Lemongrass, snake gourd, mint, sage, ginger, chilli, curry leaves, onions, spinach, basil and rosemary, radishes, eggplants, bananas, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers are just some of the items island-grown by Bandara. To give an idea of the quanities produced, 80kg of cucumbers and 47kg bananas were produced in just one month as well as over 200 coconuts which are used both for cooking and for the Maldivian Serenity Ritual spa treatment.

Sustainability is at the heart of Hurawalhi’s organic garden with a composting machine providing the nutrients needed for the plants to flourish while at the same time reducing waste going to landfill. At Hurawalhi you can feast on the delicious food with the clear conscience that local, healthy produce and sustainability bring.