SRI LANKA: Tea Planations in the Central Highlands

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is renowned worldwide for its tea. 

 

Specifically, "Orange Pekoe" is a name that comes to mind.

Tea production is an integral part of the country’s economy and culture.

Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea exporters globally.

In a country of about 24 million people, the tea industry provides employment to over a million people. That includes tea pluckers, factory workers and estate managers.

The number employed is even higher when you factor in "tea tourism".

 

Tea cultivation was introduced in Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was called at the time, in 1867 when a Scottish planter established the first tea plantation.

After a fungus wiped out the country’s coffee plantations, tea became the dominant crop, and by the late 19th century, Sri Lanka had emerged as one of the leading tea producers in the world.

The island’s tea plantations are spread across picturesque highlands.

Different regions in Sri Lanka produce distinct flavors based on altitude, climate, and soil. It is similar to wine production.

The tea plants are hand-plucked selecting only the top two leaves and a bud.

The leaves then go through a series of stages, starting with withering where the leaves are dried to reduce moisture.

Leaves then go through rollers to twist them and release flavors. Oxidation is the next step where tea enzymes react with air, changing color and taste. The leaves are then dried, graded, and packed.

There are three distinctive flavors. Black tea is the most famous with a strong flavour making it very aromatic. Green tea is milder and packed with antioxidants. White tea is the rarest, made from young buds with a delicate taste and an expensive price tag.

According to the World Tea Export Council, black tea is the most consumed tea globally, making up approximately 75% of the total tea consumption. This is followed by green tea, which accounts for approximately 20% of the total tea consumption, while herbal tea and oolong tea account for the remaining 5%.

Sri Lanka’s tea is recognized by the Lion Logo, showing it is certified Sri Lankan tea.

As they say in Sri Lanka "Ceylon Tea - Symbol of Quality."

As they say in the UK "Keep Calm and Sip Tea."