Ceylon Tea – the Legend Explained in Detail
What we have included in this article for you:
- Ceylon Tea Introduction
- Ceylon Tea History
- Ceylon Tea Benefits
- Sri Lankan Tea and Sri Lanka Tea Plantation Exploration
Introducing Ceylon Tea
Sri Lanka is the fourth-largest tea-producing country in the world. Tea is a major industry in Sri Lanka. Formerly a British colony identified as Ceylon, this small island in the Indian Ocean is renowned for growing the best black tea in the world, cultivated and processed as per uncompromising, conventional methods and quality.
Since the 1880s, Ceylon tea has been the country’s largest and most popular export; for decades, it has been the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s economy and still plays a major role in the country’s prosperity. The Tea Board is the sole legislative and administrative agency of the Sri Lankan tea industry.
All tea cultivated in Sri Lanka is now 100 percent ozone-friendly. This is a uniqueness that no other tea-producing country can speak about. Plans are currently being drawn up to enforce a complete prohibition on the usage of methyl bromide in applications such as export processing and delivery. Since May 2011, all Ceylon Tea products must display the latest ‘Ozone Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea’ label, authenticating that they have been produced without the usage of any ozone-depleting compounds.
With Ceylon Tea, you’re not only refreshing yourself; you’re also helping to refresh and restore an environmental resource that is vital to all life on Earth.
Ceylon Tea Types:
- NUWARA ELIYA, Refined
- DIMBULA, Refreshingly Smooth
- SABARAGAMUWA, Strong, Scarlet, and Stylish
- UVA, Exotic
- UDA PUSSELLAWA, Exquisitely Tangy
- KANDY, Full-Bodied, and Flavour Packed
- RUHUNA, Dark Svelte Tones with Strong Rich Notes
Sri Lankan Tea Grades:
- GUNPOWDER
- SILVER TIPS
- PEKOE
- FLOWERY BROKEN ORANGE PEKOE FANNING EXTRA SPECIAL
- FLOWERY FANNINGS 1 (FF1)
- BROKEN ORANGE PEKOE FANNINGS (BOPF)
- OP – ORANGE PEKOE
- DUST 1
- FLOWERY FANNINGS 1 (FF1)
- BROKEN ORANGE PEKOE (OP)
The History of Sri Lankan Tea
It was as far ago as 1824 when the British took a tea plant from China to Sri Lanka (as Sri Lanka was known at the time). It was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya and is known to have been the first-ever non-commercial tea plant in the country.
After almost two decades in 1867, James Taylor, of Scottish descent, cultivated 19 acres of tea in the town of Kandy in Ceylon, Loolecondera, as the first industrial tea garden. The very first selling of Loolecondera teas culminated in 1872, in Kandy, and the very first shipment of tea to London in 1873. These groundbreaking attempts were made through trial and error and developed through the years by the implementation and development of tea production machinery and methods by various individuals and businesses.
The first broking company, John Brothers & Co., was founded in 1876 and the first public Colombo sale was conducted in 1883 under the supervision of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (which was established in 1839). The Colombo Tea Traders’ Association was founded in 1894 as well as the Tea Research Institute was established in 1925. These institutions helped to enhance the level and export of Ceylon Teas in its initial stages.
Sri Lankan Tea Benefits
Ceylon tea is popular among tea lovers for its rich taste and aromatic fragrance. Although there are several variations in flavor and antioxidant content, it derives from the same plant as other forms of tea and has a common range of nutrients.
Certain varieties of Ceylon tea have been related to remarkable health benefits—ranging from improved fat burning to improved regulation of blood sugar and reduced cholesterol levels.
Like most forms of tea, it is produced from the dried and refined leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis.
It can, however, contain a higher amount of antioxidants, like myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol.
It is often said to vary marginally in taste. The notes of citrus and full-bodied flavor are attributed to the special environmental conditions under which it is produced. It is widely available in oolong, orange, black, and white Ceylon varieties—differently based on particular processing and manufacturing methods.
Excellent Source of Antioxidants: Ceylon tea is an outstanding source of antioxidants—compounds that can counteract oxidative cell harm.
The analysis shows that antioxidants play a key role in wellbeing and can guard against chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions. All Ceylon tea variants have a slight amount of caffeine and some trace minerals, like manganese, magnesium, cobalt, and chromium.
May Aid Weight Loss: Some research has shown that incorporating tea into your everyday diet will burn fat and improve weight loss. One review concluded that black tea helps lower body weight by preventing metabolism and fat absorption to reduce calorie intake. Some compounds in Ceylon tea can also help to stimulate a particular enzyme that is involved in the breakdown of fat cells and avoids the accumulation of fat.
Sri Lankan Tea and Sri Lanka Tea Plantation Exploration
Many of Sri Lanka’s holidays include a day or two visiting tea plantations, typically situated in the central highlands. This mountainous area is lined with green foliage from where some of the greatest teas in the world derive.
This is just before a stroll across the beautiful Horton Plains National Park, which shows the natural wonders of Nuwara Eliya. An early start means that you get to enjoy the natural scenery and catch a picnic breakfast in the World’s End Gorge is a treat.
Providing tourists with technical knowledge of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s tea discovery tours can direct you through the best sections of the tea hills by car, train, and jeep, enabling you to completely indulge in the captivating scenery. These tours give insight into Sri Lankan tea-making history by visiting old tea plants and discovering the mechanism behind Ceylon tea.
Bellow are the Most Famous Tea Factories in Sri Lanka:
Halpewatte Tea Factory:
Halpewatte Tea Factory focuses on manufacturing some of the richest single-origin tea in Sri Lanka and has been doing so for the last 35 years. The factory is one of the biggest tea factories in the Uva area. They are responsible for fostering conservation through their development of tea, in addition to their participation in tourism in the areas of Bandarawela and Ella. With experienced workers, Halpewatte offers you a glimpse at the booming and varied job of rising tea for the rest of the world to appreciate.
Handunugoda Tea Estate:
For those with a wee bit of time, the Handunugoda Tea Estate offers you a chance to tour the estate’s tea plantation a little sooner. During the trip, you will be guided by a travel companion who will guide you to the method of planting and harvesting, while offering in-depth details on Sri Lankan tea culture. There is also a golf course on hand, and also a visit to the tea museum.
Bluefield Tea Gardens:
A trip to the Bluefield Tea Gardens is a bit more fun than other Sri Lankan tea exploration tours. Bluefield provides customized tours via their plantation, offering in-depth guides and explanations of all stages of tea processing. Situated in Nuwara Eliya, the Tea Center is a great place to buy some of the finest quality teas in the country, making it a perfect gift. The stunning property boasts a restaurant and a café on the front, perfect if you like more than just a hot drink. The site is especially useful for traveling with a family since it includes a children’s play space.
When it comes to Ceylon tea, we have to give Nuwara Eliya the credit it deserves. Nuwara Eliya is renowned for its lush green tea plantations. It’s best to visit them by tuk-tuk. A complete day journey to the tea estates, tea factories, perspectives, and the Ramboda waterfall can be planned for a few dollars. Rest at many perspectives overlooking the plantations and drink tea in the spectacular tea factories.
Other than the Sri Lankan tea plantations explained above, you can also visit the following choices:
- Damro Labookellie Tea Plantation
- Glenloch tea plantation
- Giragama Tea plantation
- Pedro tea estate
The most popular Cities for Ceylon Tea tours are:
- Ella
- Bandarawela
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Galle
Why Buy Sri Lankan Tea?
To qualify for the unique legal distinction set out in the words ‘Ceylon Tea’ and the iconic Lion emblem that goes with it, tea must not only be cultivated and processed entirely in Sri Lanka; it must also comply with stringent quality requirements laid down and governed by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. Besides that, it cannot be combined or blended with tea from any other region of the country. Even a blend of 95% Sri Lankan can’t be identified as a Ceylon Tea.
Tea carrying the emblem of the Lion must also be packed in Sri Lanka. Overseas suppliers and dealers cannot use the mark on their packages, although though the contents are 100% Sri Lankan, the word ‘Ceylon Tea’ can also be legally used. These prohibitions are required to help customers differentiate real Ceylon Tea from thousands of items, including those with foreign brand names available from around the world, which contain tea of mixed, non-specific sources.
So, all these facts suggest that Sri Lankan tea is highly-standardized and offers the best tea taste to you when purchased from the right dealer.
Summary: OK, now you must be wondering how to visit one of those leading tea estates in Sri Lankan and understand the brilliance of Ceylon tea. Well, we are your travel buddy in this case. For exploring the entire Sri Lankan tea industry, we can help you with our trip packages.