10 months ago
A Comprehensive Guide to Sri Lankan Teas and Their Terroir
Imagine Sri Lanka as a giant garden that grows special leaves to make tea!
Just like how different places have different kinds of apples, Sri Lanka has different places that grow different kinds of tea leaves.
These places are called regions, and they are like neighborhoods for tea.
Some tea grows really high up in the mountains, some in the middle, and some closer to the ground.
Each spot has its own special weather and soil, which makes the tea taste unique.
Some teas are strong and good with milk, like the ones from Kandy or Ruhuna.
Others are lighter and smell really nice, like the tea from Nuwara Eliya, which is like the superstar of Sri Lankan teas.
You can even find tea that is a beautiful reddish color and tastes sweet, like from Sabaragamuwa.
So, when you pick a tea from Sri Lanka, you're not just picking tea, you're picking a little piece of a special place!
Sri Lanka's tea industry, established 150 years ago, is renowned for its orthodox mass-premium long-leaf and broken-leaf black tea.
The brand 'Ceylon Tea' retains strong recall, with a lion logo signifying tea grown, processed, and packaged in Sri Lanka.
The term 'Orange Pekoe' refers to a black tea grade, not a flavor, for whole-leaf teas.
Seven distinct tea regions (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Uda Pusselawa, Sabaragamuwa, Ruhuna) are characterized by elevation, wind, rain, and biodiversity.
Different regions offer teas suited for milk (Kandy, Dimbula, Sabaragamuwa, Ruhuna) or plain black tea (Uva, Uda Pusselawa), with Nuwara Eliya highlighted as a connoisseur's choice.
- Who
- James Taylor, Scotsman and founder of Sri Lanka's first commercial tea estate.
- What
- A guide to Sri Lankan teas, their terroir, regional characteristics, and tasting notes.
- Where
- Sri Lanka, specifically its south-central highlands with seven distinct tea regions.
- When
- The tea industry is 150 years old; Ceylon became Sri Lanka in 1972.
- Why
- To provide a guide to Ceylon teas and their terroir for consumers.
Key facts
- Origin of Tea Industry
- Founded by Scotsman James Taylor at Loolecondera Estate in Kandy, 150 years ago.
- Brand Name
- Ceylon Tea, maintained its brand recall post-independence in 1972.
- Lion Logo
- Indicates tea is 100% grown, processed, and packaged in Sri Lanka.
- Tea Grading
- Orange Pekoe (OP) is a grade for whole-leaf black tea, not a flavor.
- Key Tea Regions
- Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Uda Pusselawa, Sabaragamuwa, and Ruhuna.
- Elevation Tiers
- High grown (above 4,000ft), mid-grown (2,000-4,000ft), and low grown (below 2,000ft).
Quotes
Aravinda Anantharaman
The author of the article, a tea drinker, writer, and editor.
““This is the first part of the quote, and this is the second part which continues the same thought.””
livemint.com




