Products: While wandering around the Colombo Literary Festival, the bright orange Tambili truck caught my eye and being a king coconut addict, I headed straight over. Given the afternoon heat, I ordered the blended classic – a combination of king coconut water and meat blended together – and absolutely loved it.
Served in a cup that holds 300 ml of refreshing goodness, the drink was thirst quenching, rejuvenating, and healthy. One does have the option of adding sugar but it’s totally unnecessary. Run by Fresh Organiq Lanka Ltd., founded by Inthikab Hussain Bari, Tambili is all about healthier and more natural alternatives, so there’s no sugar added unless you ask for it.
As Inthikab explains, Tambili is more than just a beverage brand; it’s a movement towards building a healthy living lifestyle: “Inspired by Sri Lanka’s iconic king coconut, locally known as tambili, our mission is to bring nature’s original energy drink back into everyday life while introducing a modern range of healthy beverages that today’s generation can enjoy.
“We believe that nature has already created the perfect refreshment. That’s why every Tambili drink is made using pure king coconut water blended with real fruits, allowing people to experience natural hydration, real energy, and authentic flavours without compromise.”
Tambili operates on a simple philosophy: ‘No additives. No added water. No nonsense.’ The commitment to preserving the natural goodness of every drink served at Tambili even includes the very ice cubes that go into the drinks, which are also made from 100% king coconut water, ensuring the beverage is not diluted.
If you want something more than king coconut alone, the menu features a wide variety of fruits with tambili as the base – there’s mango, avocado, citrus fruits, melon, and so much more, and plans are in the pipeline to add more innovative products.
“We will be including vegetable wellness shooters, functional beverages, and other nutrient-rich creations designed to support natural energy, immunity, and overall wellbeing,” said Inthikab, adding that tambili was proudly locally produced, supported Sri Lankan farmers, promoted local ingredients, and showcased one of our country’s greatest natural treasures to the world.
“This is more than a drink. It’s a commitment to live healthy, live cleaner, and live local. Tambili began as a shared dream among a group of friends who believed in creating a healthier, more natural way of living. From the very beginning, we were fortunate to have the encouragement, ideas, and unwavering support of many friends who believed in our vision. As the journey evolved, Co-Founders Azeem Saududeen and Mohammed Siddique joined hands with me to turn that dream into reality.
“Alongside them, my wife Zainab Inthikab has been a constant source of strength, encouragement, and unwavering support throughout this journey. Through every challenge and every milestone, her belief in our vision has been instrumental in helping us move forward.
“Together, with the support and blessings of our parents, families, friends, and well-wishers, we remain committed to building Tambili into a brand that promotes healthier living, celebrates Sri Lanka’s natural goodness, and inspires people to make better choices every day.”
At present, Tambili serves customers from its signature beverage truck located next to Fashion Bug in Kollupitiya and operates daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is also available via delivery platforms Uber Eats and PickMe covering areas around Colombo 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the owners and management of Fashion Bug for believing in our vision and giving us the opportunity to establish our first permanent daily operating location. As we continue to grow, we are actively exploring new locations to make Tambili more accessible to communities across Sri Lanka. Our vision is to bring healthy, natural beverages closer to where people live, work, study, and gather, making it easier for everyone to choose a refreshing and nutritious alternative every day,” Inthikab added.
Given the quality of its beverages and genuine commitment to healthier living, Tambili is certainly well positioned for growth, spreading goodness all the while.
Plates: I am very late to the bunwich party, but as they say, better late than never! Craving a soft sandwich on Saturday afternoon, I was checking out the options online when Pango’s came up with a delivery time of less than 15 minutes.
Scrolling through the menu, the Cream Cheese & Garlic Bread (Korean cream cheese and garlic bun with parsley and butter) grabbed my attention so I added it to my cart, but I also had to try a classic bunwich, so I went for the Ham & Cheese. Described as the OG, it features chicken ham and cheese toasted in a buttery Hokkaido milk bun and comes with a note: ‘We recommend not to add anything to this classic!’ Naturally, I complied.
My experience? The food got to me in no time, freshly prepared, nice and warm, and carefully wrapped – top marks for the interesting and environmentally friendly packaging! As for how it tasted, it was yummy and heartwarming. This is comforting food with straightforward flavours, lovingly prepared, and oozing with cheese!
Note: Pango’s contributes to conservation efforts in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan pangolin is its Brand Ambassador. It is available in Colombo 5 (cloud kitchen), Mt. Lavinia (dine in), and the Galle Fort (dine in).