Regions of Tea Cultivation

Ceylon tea has a distinctive taste and it has qualities unique to itself, likewise the tea produced in each region in Sri Lanka has its unique characteristics, the taste and quality of tea differs from region to region. This is the result of the different climates and elevations present in the regions.

Central Province

Tea grown in this region comes from Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. In Nuwara Eliya tea is grown at an elevation of 6,200ft above sea level and has rare and refined qualities that differs from the low-grown teas. As a result of the higher altitudes and low-temperatures, Nuwara Eliya produces slow-grown bushes with rather small leaves which takes on an orange hue after withering. The infused tea leaves take on a greenish-yellow and has a pale liquor compared to other Ceylon Teas.

Kandy is famous for mid-grown teas and is also responsible for producing flavorsome teas. Kandy produces a variety of strengths and styles, and it all depends on the elevation of which the tea is grown at, tea grown at a lower elevation produces a rather large leaf and has a strong flavor when infused and tea grown at a higher elevation produces a smaller leaf and has a mild and delicate flavor to it. The best tea is produced in the first quarter of the year when the cool and dry weather sets in. Teas hailing from Kandy produce bright infusions with coppery tones, and also has fair amounts of strength and body. 

Uva Province

The tea grown in the Uva region has a distinctive flavor and are mainly used in blends. The tea is grown at an elevation of 3,000 to 5,000 ft. Tea produced in this region comes from estates in Bandarawela, Badulla and Haputale. Uva teas are also known for its recognition around the world. They produce a leaf that is more blackened by withering than that of any other region and has a wide variety of ranges and the unique weather conditions contribute to the distinctive flavors and aromas that makes tea from Uva famous among tea lovers around the world. Uva region is also responsible for producing a significant amount of green tea. 

Southern Province

Best known as low-grown teas, the tea estates of this region lies within an elevation of 2000ft above sea level. The soil and the low elevation of the region contributes to the rapid growth of the tea bush and produces a long beautiful leaf that turns intensely black on withering and is ideal for 'rolling'. As the weather conditions are particularly warm and dry they produce a burgundy hued liquor in the cup. The teas grown in this region has a strong malty flavor, and the aromas have distinctive qualities to it, and is mainly consumed as black tea. 

Sabaragamuwa Province

Tea grown in this region has a little variation to it than of the teas grown in southern district, this is a result of the wider range of altitude at which it is grown and the varied climatic conditions. They too produce a fast-growing bush with long leaves that are rather black when withered and very well suited for rolling. The liquor too is similar to that of the teas from southern district, a dark-yellow brown with a hint of red and during the dry season a little bit lighter in shade. The aroma though is completely different with a hint of sweet caramel and not quite as strong as southern teas and the flavor of the teas are somewhat stronger. 

Each tea grown in each region contributes to the quality and distinctive flavors of Ceylon Tea that is famous all around the world among tea lovers. 

Categories: Drink, Green Tea, Tea

Tea in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the largest exporters of tea in the world. the country produces a wide range of varieties, including grades of the traditional  lack tea, flavoured teas, organic teas and green tea. the first tea plants, brought from china, were grown in Peradeniya Botanical gardens in  1824, but it was not until 1867 that the first commercial tea planta tion was established near kandy. Before the cultivation of tea began on the island, coffee was the principal plantation crop. However, when the  coffee trees were decimated by disease in the 1870s, tea became a profitable alternative. today, the tea industry is  of great importance to sri lanka’s economy. the country’s tea estates attract visitors from around the world and offer tours of tea factories, stays in plantation bungalows and picturesque views of rows of tea bushes.

 

Tea Plantation

About 4 per cent of Sri Lanka’s land area is covered with tea plantations. These are mainly found in the Hill Country, which offers the ideal terrain and  climate for the plants to flourish. Tea bushes are carefully manicured and kept at waist height for ease of plucking. Tea cuttings are kept in a  nursery for about a year before being planted in the fields.

 

The British and Tea

In 1852, a Scottish planter named James Taylor arrived  in Sri Lanka to work for a coffee grower. He was put in charge of the Loolecondera estate near Kandy. In 1867, Taylor grew the first tea plants for commercial use in a section of the estate. The plantation’s success eventually led to the expansion of the global tea industry in the late 19th century, with several large British companies buying the smaller estates.

 

 

Tea Pluckers

Most of the tea pluckers in Sri Lanka are women and the majority are descendants of the Tamil labourers who were brought from south India to work in the  plantations by the British in the 1870s. The tea workers are required to pick at least 20 kg (44 lb) of  leaves every day. Their wages are low and the living conditions are poor – they often live in barrackstyle buildings comprising only one or two rooms.

From Bush to Cup in 24 Hours

Tea production in Sri Lanka is a labourintensive industry. Tea leaves are still plucked by hand, and it is the youngest two leaves as well as the bud that are

taken every six to 10 days. After the leaves have been collected, they are delivered to the factory where they are processed using either the traditional or the CTC (crush, tear and curl) method. The end product is then ready to be sent for auction to make its way onto shop shelves. Tea factories offer tours

to explain the tea-making process and many of them continue to use machines that have changed little since the 19th century.

  

Traditional Method

The plucked leaves are dried in huge trays or “withering troughs” while hot air is blown over them to reduce moisture content. They are subsequently crushed, which causes enzymes to be released and the fermentation process to begin. Leaves are left to ferment for a  short period, after which they are fired in an oven. They are then left to cool before being sorted and graded.

CTC Method

This method is much faster than the traditional method. Fresh leaves are passed through a series of cylindrical rollers that crush, tear and curl the tea. The   roundup leaves are then rolled into little pellets and oxidized. Tea manufactured by this process is mostly used in tea bags.

Tea Distribution

The majority of tea produced from both traditional and CTC methods is packed into sacks and sent for sale in Colombo, where a variety of grades are auctioned for export and blending purposes.

Grades of Tea

Sri Lankan tea is divided into various grades. While high-grown thrives above 1,200 m (3,937 ft) and is said to have the best colour, aroma and fla vour, low-grown is  found below 600 m (1,968 ft) and is less flavourful. Medium-grown is cultivated between these two altitudes. Teas are also graded by size and by quality. The finest among leaf teas is Orange Pekoe (OP), which is made with unbroken leaves, and the slightly lesser Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP). Fannings as well as dust are graded much lower and end up in tea bags.

Categories: Ceylon Tea, Grade, Green Tea, Spices, Tea

Explore the Ceylon Teas of Sri Lanka

Ceylon tea is a popular type of black tea that is also known as Sri Lankan tea. Served as an iced tea or nice and warm, it is a favorite beverage for many tea drinkers. While Ceylon is known for its bold flavor, you might be surprised to know that it can vary greatly in taste, depending on where it's grown in the country.

What is Ceylon Tea?

Ceylon (say-lawn) tea is a tea from Sri Lanka, a nation which was formerly known as "Ceylon." Although some Sri Lankan producers are branching out in their offerings to include green tea and other tea types, most Ceylon teas are black teas.

Ceylon leaves are often described as "wiry." This is because they are left long and thin with a wire-like look. In the world of tea, these leaves are very easy to recognize.

What Does Ceylon Tea Taste Like?

Sri Lanka is a small island, but it has an enormous range in elevation, so the flavors of the teas produced there vary greatly.
This difference in flavor is influenced by climate, soil, precipitation, sun, and plant varietals, and it is known as terroir. It is used in wine as well as tea. Sri Lanka happens to be unique because of the immense variety available from such a small area.
Despite the regional nuances, a "classic Ceylon flavor" is generally thought to be bold, full, and brisk. It has medium-to-full tannins and some notes of citrus, chocolate, or spice.
Most Ceylon tea is orthodox tea, meaning it was processed by hand, making a brisk, bright tea.

Tea Growing Regions in Sri Lanka

Eleven tea-growing regions are found in the country, the best-known are Uva, Nuwara Eliya, and Dimbulla.

Uva is perhaps the most famous tea-growing region in Sri Lanka. It is located in central Sri Lanka, east of both Nuwara Eliya and Dambulla. The terroir of Uva produces black tea with a distinctively sweet flavor and exotic, woodsy aroma that can handle a bit of milk. Some white teas are also produced in Uva.

Nuwara Eliya is the highest elevation tea-producing area in Sri Lanka. It is also located in the center of the island, west of Uva and north of Dambulla. Its terroir produces tea with a delicate, floral fragrance and light, brisk flavor. The high elevation teas of Nuwara Eliya are exceptional iced or served with lemon.

Dambulla is a tea-growing region in central Sri Lanka. It is the southernmost of the three well-known regions. As a region of mountain slopes, the terroir ranges greatly with the elevation. Some teas are full-bodied, while others are delicate, but most are mellow in flavor.
Other tea-growing regions in Sri Lanka include Badulla, Galle, Haputalle, Kandy, Maturata, Ratnapura, Ruhuna, and Uda Pussellawa.

Drinking Ceylon Tea

The diversity of Ceylon teas leads to a great variety in how you can enjoy it. This type of tea is the epitome of the term 'self-drinker,' which is used to describe teas (primarily black) that need no enhancements because they are perfect on their own.
Ceylon teas are the most popular base for iced teas in the world. They also make one of the most pleasant hot teas you will find.
In addition, enjoy Ceylon teas in the following ways:

• As a milk tea to mellow the flavor and reduce any bitterness.
• Instead of milk, try Ceylon with a hint of lemon, particularly when served cold.
• Sugar or honey can be used as a mild sweetener.
• Ceylon tea is an excellent choice for any drink recipe that calls for a generic 'black tea.' The Thai Iced Tea is a perfect example.

Categories: Drink, Grade, Green Tea, Tea

9 Impressive Benefits of Ceylon Tea

 

There are impressive benefits of ceylon tea, including its ability to aid in weight loss, protect against chronic illness, boost heart health, increase energy levels, strengthen the immune system, improve the appearance of the skin, moderate diabetic symptoms, and prevent kidney stones.

Ceylon Tea

You may not be familiar with the term ceylon tea, possibly because you’ve never heard of Ceylon – the formal name of Sri Lanka until 1972. Tea production in this country is impressive and is responsible for over $1.5 billion of global tea sales. The excellent terrain and temperature of Sri Lanka make it an ideal location to grow this tea, and it comes in three varieties – black, green, and white. You can find ceylon tea all over the world, but many people may simply mistake it for regular old black tea. Black ceylon tea is the most common form and has a mild flavor that is reminiscent of citrus fruits.

Green ceylon tea has a more pungent, nutty flavor than its black counterpart, and has the highest level of antioxidants since these tea leaves are unfermented. Finally, white ceylon tea is the most expensive and rarest form and is prepared, harvested, and processed by hand, along with being allowed to dry in the sun, giving it a sweeter, more pleasant flavor than the other two varieties.
Essentially, any tea that comes from Sri Lanka is called ceylon tea, and it is widely praised around the world for its high polyphenolic content, which bestows a number of health benefits on those who regularly consume this tea leaf variety.

More specifically, ceylon tea is believed to have a warming influence on the body, and always has a slightly tangy taste, which sets it apart from other varietals on the market. The flavonoids, antioxidants, and polyphenolic compounds in ceylon tea have made it a popular remedy for a wide variety of ailments and afflictions, and can even be used in topical applications for certain issues.

Health Benefits of Ceylon Tea

Let’s take a closer look at some of the health benefits of ceylon tea.

Weight Loss

One of the best things about ceylon tea is its ability to stimulate the metabolism, making it a precious tool for those attempting to lose weight. By speeding up the metabolism, your body naturally burns fat faster, even if you don’t change other aspects of your lifestyle or workout regimen. This means that by giving your metabolism a morning boost with ceylon tea, you will have more energy for even more activities, which may further increase your calorie-burning efforts!

Boosts Immunity

Across the board, ceylon tea can help to promote a healthier body, starting with the immune system. By improving the response time of the immune system to pathogens and foreign agents, ceylon tea can better prepare the body to fight off illness. Furthermore, the antioxidants found in ceylon tea generally reduce oxidative stress and the presence of free radicals within the body, which can help the immune system focus on the important things, like keeping you protected from infections!

Protects the Heart

Ceylon tea possesses a measurable amount of potassium, which is a crucial element of heart health since it functions as a vasodilator. This means that it relaxes the tension in blood vessels and arteries, allowing your blood pressure to decrease to normal, healthy levels and reduce the strain on your heart. A cup of ceylon tea to start each day, along with a potassium-rich fruit like bananas, can do wonders for your long-term heart health.

Increases Energy

Sri Lanka used to be a major coffee-producing nation, but a lot of that infrastructure has shifted to making tea. However, ceylon tea and Sri Lankan coffee share an important characteristic – caffeine. By providing your body with a healthy dose of caffeine, this tea can boost your cognitive acuity and attention, and also pull you out of that morning energy slump. If you drink it at a regular pace, perhaps 2-3 cups over the course of the day, you’ll also avoid the terrible caffeine crash that you so often get from coffee.

Skin Care

Some of the antioxidants that have been identified in ceylon tea are specifically linked to reducing collagen loss in the skin by preventing oxidative stress in the surrounding cells. Collagen is important for skin elasticity, namely preventing the appearance of wrinkles and keeping the skin taut and strong. By preventing oxidative stress in this way, you can prevent premature aging, eliminate those pesky wrinkles, and also promote healthier blemish-free skin.

Eliminates Kidney Stones

Research has connected the consumption of black tea to a decreased risk of developing kidney stones. This is believed to be connected to both the caffeine content and antioxidants present within this miraculously delicious and beneficial tea variety!

Regulates Diabetes Symptoms

Drinking ceylon tea has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels, which is particularly important for people who suffer from diabetes. By helping to regulate the glucose and insulin levels in the body, ceylon tea can prevent the spikes and drops that can be dangerous for those who struggle with diabetes.

Prevents Chronic Illness

The impressive antioxidant range that ceylon tea possesses makes it a powerful aid to human health in many ways. Specifically, the theaflavins and thearubigins found in this tea are known to directly counteract the spread of cancer and can prevent cellular mutation and oxidative stress. In order to prevent chronic diseases, like cancer, ceylon tea can be a great line of defense to boost the responsiveness of your immune system.

Word of Caution: Due to the notable content of caffeine found in this tea, it is not recommended that pregnant women consume it, as this can lead to complications in the pregnancy, not to mention the fact that most babies cannot process caffeine in utero. Furthermore, if you have anxiety problems, adding caffeine to your diet isn’t always the best option. However, in low-caffeine doses (steeping for short periods of time), ceylon tea can help to eliminate some of the factors that may be causing you stress. As always, it is best to speak with your doctor before adding a new herbal treatment to your normal dietary or health regimen.

Categories: Drink, Green Tea, Health Tips, Tea

Ceylon Tea (Introduction)

Sri Lanka is one of the most famous countries to produce tea and is one of the most fabulously enjoyed beverages in Sri Lanka. Tea for us is literally second to water, every single person in our Nation enjoys at least three cups a day, and that is just minimally. Every occasion is celebrated with a cup of tea, and we would not substitute it for anything else. Its the poor mans' drink of choice and the rich mans' as well. There is something about the wonderful beverage that leaves you wanting for more. The unique tastes and the impeccable aromas of Ceylon Tea is what makes it famous around the globe. 

Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) was introduced to Tea in the 1800's by James Taylor, he began a tea plantation in Kandy and started manufacturing tea. He made his first sale in kandy and thus began the growth of the tea industry in Sri Lanka. 

The ideal climatic conditions play a major role in the success of the growth of tea in Sri Lanka. 4% of the country's land is covered by tea plantations. The main tea growing areas are Nuwera Eliya, Kandy, Central Province, , Bandarawela, Haputale, Uva Province, Galle, Matara, Southern Province, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Sabaragamuwa Province. The best tea are gathered from late June to the end of August in the eastern districts and fron the beginning of February to mid March in western districts. 

Skilfully plucking the tea leaf is essential to the final quality of the tea, the two leaves and a bud, that is where the flavor and the aroma of tea is present, and this is plucked by women. Sri Lanka id one of the few countries that each leaf is plucked by hand instead of machinery, if they were to use machinery some of the coarse leaves as twigs would be mixed with the proper leaves which could destroy the flavor of the tea. The skillful women pluck around 15 to 20 kilos of tea leaves to be weighed and sent to the nearby tea factories. 

Ceylon Black Tea is the most famously known tea around the globe. The high-grown black tea has a honey golden liquor and light and is among the best teas which has a distinct flavor, aroma and strength. The low-grown teas has a burgundy brown liquor and stronger in taste. And the mid-grown teas are strong, rich and full-bodied. Ceylon black tea is famous around the world and is used as the base for many blends such as Earl Grey tea, and many other fruit flavored teas. 

Black tea is not the only tea produced, Ceylon green tea is mainly grown in Idalgashinna in the Uva Province. The Ceylon Green Tea generally has a fuller body, and has a pungent, malty and nutty flavor. Green tea in Sri Lanka has its own characteristics, they are darker in both the dry and infused leaf, and has a rich flavor different from other green teas. Much of the green teas produced in Sri Lanka has an acquired taste and are exported to the North African and the Middle Eastern markets. Other than the Black and the Green tea Sri Lanka specializes in White Tea which is also known as 'silver tips'. This is one of the priciest teas in Sri Lanka, price of a kilo of White Tea in higher than that of Green and Black tea. White Tea was first grown in Nuwera-Eliya. The tea is grown, harvested and rolled by hand and the leaves are dried and withered in the sun. it has a delicate and light liquoring and contains notes of pine and honey and a golden coppery infusion. 

Sri Lankan tea is a great success in the international markets, and despite the ever growing competition from India and China, Sri Lanka remains one of the world's top tea exporters. The most important international markets of Sri Lankan tea are the Middle East, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, the UK and Japan. 

The 'Lion Logo' in the packages of the tea produced in Sri Lanka is an important factor. It is closely monitored by the Sri Lankan Tea board and if a manufacturer is to acquire this particular logo, they need to go through a series of inspections that are done by the Sri Lankan Tea Board and if they pass these inspections they are allowed to use the Lion Logo which depicts as 'Pure Ceylon Tea- Packed in Sri Lanka'. 

Ceylon Tea is indeed exquisitely famous for its rich tastes and aromas, and it is made with a lot of care and love, so that everybody around the globe has the privilege of tasting such a wonderful beverage.

Categories: Ceylon Tea, Green Tea, Tea

Health Benefits Of Ceylon Tea

Health Benefits Of Ceylon Tea

Ceylon tea is famous around the globe for its unique taste and qualities, it has distinctive qualities and a recognition around the world for being one the best teas manufactured and holds its own in the international market among teas produced in other countries. The splendid weather conditions in Sri Lanka and the rich history surrounding Ceylon Tea are some of the factors that contributes to its greatness.

There are several types of Ceylon Teas that are produced, the most commonly known of course is Ceylon Black tea. It is highly regarded around the globe for its rich color and the strong flavor with citrus overtones. Ceylon Black Tea has more caffeine compared to other teas produced.

Ceylon Green Tea is known to have a vastly different flavor to that of green teas produced around the world. Its flavor is quite strong and leafy and also darker in color, where as Ceylon White Tea carries a rather sweet flavor with overtones of honey and is light in color. White tea is known to be the priciest tea produced in Sri Lanka, it is also know as 'Silver Tips'.With these distinctive qualities Ceylon Tea is also known to have a voluminous amounts of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Ceylon Black Tea.

Ceylon Black Tea has many health benefits. It is known that Ceylon Black Tea contains less caffeine than coffee and is an excellent booster for your immune system. Black tea is known to be an excellent defense against cancer, the theaflavins and the thearubigins present in black tea are well known anti-oxidants that help to fight free radicals that can damage DNA which causes cancer in your body.

Consuming black tea regularly can decrease your chances of heart diseases. The anti-oxidants found in black tea can help in lowering cholesterol levels inside blood vessels, thereby avoiding high blood pressure and strokes. These anti-oxidants can also help in reducing the size of tumors.

Like green tea, Ceylon Black tea helps in mental alertness and acuity which is a result of an increase of alpha-wave activity in your brain. The daily consumption of black tea is helpful in keeping you safe from viruses and bacteria and it also reduces the chances of you catching influenza and boosts your immune system to prevent you catching any other diseases. Ceylon black tea is also know to reduce stress in you system.

Health Benefits Of Ceylon Green Tea

As we now know that Ceylon Green Tea has a stronger flavor, it is safe to say that it contains copious amounts of anti-oxidants, more than black tea for that matter. Green tea is famously known to increase your metabolism which ultimately results in burning unwanted fat in your body.

Green tea has a vast amounts of anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities. Its daily consumption has proven to reduce osteoporosis. The anti-oxidants found in green tea has been proven to help reduce bone loss and in turn increase bone building muscles.

Green tea is also known to reduce oral health problems. The catechins present in green tea can kill bacteria and viruses that causes soar throats, dental cavities, gum diseases, and bad breath.

Green Tea improves brain functions and protects your brain during old age. The catechins present in green tea has protective effects on neurons which in turn can reduce risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Green tea is also know widely to reduce risk of heart diseases and cancer. The catechins found in green tea stalls cell mutation and reduces the risk of tumors being formed. Like wise these catechins also help in relaxing your blood vessels and giving it an even flow and prevents clots from forming which reduces the risk of heart attacks.

Health Benefits Of White Tea

The amount of caffeine present in White tea is less compared to green and black tea and has more anti-oxidants. Since white tea is processed less it has all the nutrients in tact and is the healthiest of teas. The health benefits are similar to that of green tea but its effectiveness is doubled due it the nutrients present.

White tea can help you reduce stress and anxiety this is due to the amino acid called Theanine. It can calm your nerves and is also well known o prevent depression.

Like Green Tea, Ceylon white tea is also a great fat burner, the rich amounts of poly phenols help reduce fat accumulation and increase your metabolism. Just like green tea, it is also helpful in reducing risk of heart disease, lowering levels of cholesterol, help build stronger bones, and kills bacteria and virus present in you body. White tea has properties that help in reducing your blood sugar which in turn reduces risk of diabetes.

Ceylon Tea has qualities and benefits that are essential to your life. Next time substitute your cup of coffee for a delicious cup of Ceylon Tea and enjoy the benefits it has to offer.

Categories: Ceylon Tea, Green Tea, Health Tips, Tea