When James Taylor started the first tea plantation in the Loolecondera Estate in Kandy in 1867, little did he know that he was making one of the most significant contributions to the history as well as the future of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon).
Before tea was cultivated as a crop in Sri Lanka coffee was by far the most dominant export crop in the country. The high demand and price for coffee in the European market made sure that plenty of interest as well as investments were made towards the coffee industry in Ceylon. But then tragedy struck and the coffee industry was devastated by a fungal disease which left the coffee industry in utter disarray. This is when tea entered in to the fray and rapidly took over as the no. 1 export crop of the island.
In the 1880s, Ceylon tea production increased dramatically and by 1888 tea cultivation areas actually exceeded that of coffee with nearly 2000 square kilometres being used. With the growth of the industry, many new factories were constructed and innovative methods of processing and packaging of the tea was introduced. The first public Colombo Auction, another important milestone in the history of Ceylon tea, was held at the premises of Somerville & Co. on 30 July 1883, with the backing of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
At the Chicago World’s Fair held in 1893, one million packets of Ceylon Tea was sold and in that same year, the tea established a record price of £36.15 per pound at the London Tea Auctions. 1894 saw the establishment of the Ceylon Tea Traders Association while the Colombo Brokers’ Association was formed in 1896. By 1927, tea production in Ceylon exceeded 100,000 metric tons almost exclusively for export purposes.
Today, Sri Lanka is synonymous the world over as the producer of the world’s finest tea. It is the country’s main export crop and Sri Lanka is the 4th largest producer of tea in the world making it one of the Sri Lanka’s main sources of foreign exchange and a significant source of income for laborers, with tea accounting for almost 12% of the GDP. In fact Sri Lanka was the world’s leading tea exporter in 1995 accounting to more than 23% of the world’s tea exports.
The tea industry currently employs over 1 million people in Sri Lanka both directly or indirectly. The ideal humidity, cool temperatures, and abundant rainfall in the country’s central highlands provide the perfect climate that favours the production of high quality tea.
Nuwara Eliya, the best-known of Sri Lanka’s tea-growing districts, is the most mountainous, and has the highest average elevation. Combined with low temperature, this produces teas of exquisite bouquet. The infusion in the cup is the lightest (palest) of all the types of Ceylon Tea, with a golden hue and a delicately fragrant flavour. Sought after grades include whole-leaf Orange Pekoe (OP) and Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP).
The Uda Pussellawa district is situated close to Nuwara Eliya, so its tea is often compared to that of its neighbour. But it is darker in the cup, with a pinkish hue, of greater strength, and exquisitely tangy. Colder conditions at year end supposedly add a hint of rose to the bouquet of a tea known for its medium body and subtle character. Heavy rainfall, though, tends to produce tea that is even darker and stronger-flavoured.
Between Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains lies the district of Dimbula, whose teas are defined as “high grown” as all estates exceed an altitude of 1,250m (4000 Feet). The complex topography of the region produces a variety of microclimates, which produce differences in flavour – sometimes jasmine mixed with cypress. All, however, share the Dimbula character: a tea that produces a fine golden-orange hue in the cup, and which is refreshingly mellow.
The remote Uva district is exposed to the winds of both northeast and southwest monsoons, believed to endow the tea produced here with a special, unmistakable character and exotically aromatic flavour. It was with tea grown on his Uva estates that Thomas Lipton, the Victorian magnate, persuaded Americans to drink tea. The mellow, smooth taste of Uva tea, once experienced, is easily distinguished.
In the Kandy district, where the industry began in 1867, the teas produced are described as “mid-grown”as cultivation does not exceed 1,300m(4000 Feet). They range in flavour depending on the altitude and whether the plantation is sheltered from monsoon winds. All are particularly flavoursome. Kandy teas produce a bright infusion with a coppery tone, and are strong and intensely full-bodied.
Sabaragamuwa is Sri Lanka’s biggest district, the teas of which are low-grown as its estates range in elevation from sea level to 610m (2000 Ft). Sabaragamuwa, sandwiched between Sinharaja in the south and Adam’s Peak wilderness in the north, produces a fast-growing bush with a long leaf. The liquor, too, is similar to that of Ruhuna teas, dark yellow-brown with a reddish tint. The aroma, however, is noticeably different from the Ruhuna product, with a hint of sweet caramel, not quite as strong: yet exceptionally stylish.
The teas of the Ruhuna district are defined as “low-grown” as they are cultivated at an altitude not exceeding 600m (2000 Ft) comprising vast sub regions from coastal plains to Southern edge of Sinharaja Rain Forest. The soil, combined with the low elevation of the estates, causes the tea-bush to grow rapidly, producing a long, beautiful leaf. Full-flavoured black tea is a distinctively unique Ruhuna speciality. Ruhuna factories produce a wide variety of leaf styles and sizes, including prized “tips”.
Being a completely natural product, tea when consumed without adding any sugar, honey or milk, contains virtually no calories and concurrently serves as a vital element in maintaining the balance of body liquids. Over many centuries, several benefits have been attributed to drinking tea with it being used as a treatment for infectious diseases, the common cold, and also to assist the digestive and nervous systems.
In modern times with the expansion of scientific research, scientists have discovered compelling evidence that increased consumption of tea can in fact reduce the chances of you suffering from a wide variety of sicknesses, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Uniworld Teas (Pvt) Ltd. is a registered trademarked corporation in Sri Lanka and is consistently ranked in the top 3 largest producers and exporters of Ceylon tea to the global market. Our company is driven by a mission to be the worlds most reliable supplier of premium quality teas, through our dedication and commitment to our clients.