Inscribed in 2025 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, kithul madeema is a traditional Sri Lankan practice of tapping sap from the kithul palm tree. The process involves carefully climbing the tree, preparing the flower stalk, and collecting sap daily using a sacred tapping knife. The sap is then filtered and boiled to produce kithul treacle, or processed into jaggery, vinegar, alcoholic beverages, or consumed fresh. Kithul products play an important role in ceremonies, festivals, and everyday life. Rooted in traditional beliefs and gender-based roles, the knowledge is mainly passed down within families. Today, the practice unites communities beyond caste boundaries, strengthens cultural identity, supports rural livelihoods, and reinforces a respectful relationship between people and nature.