Tea Launch
“Ceylon Tea’s story is a remarkable tale of resilience and reinvention. Born from the sudden destruction of Sri Lanka’s booming coffee industry in the 1860s, a few visionary pioneers transformed an experimental crop into a global empire. Today, it stands as an iconic symbol of Sri Lankan heritage, renowned worldwide for its unmatched quality, rich flavor, and vivid history.”
1860s – The Coffee Crash
A devastating fungal disease wipes out the island’s highly lucrative coffee plantations, leaving the economy in ruins and forcing planters to urgently find a new crop.
1867 – The First Planting
Scotsman James Taylor plants the first 19 acres of commercial tea at the Loolecondera Estate in Kandy, officially birthing the industry.
1873 – The First Export
The very first official commercial shipment—a modest 23 lbs of tea from Loolecondera—is shipped to London, marking Ceylon's entry into the global market.
1883 – The First Colombo Auction
The inaugural public tea auction is held in Colombo. It has since grown into one of the oldest and largest operational tea auctions in the world.
1890 – The Lipton Impact
Millionaire grocer Sir Thomas Lipton buys up failing coffee and young tea estates in Ceylon, streamlining production to mass-market high-quality tea affordably to the Western world.
1965 – Becoming No. 1
Less than a century after its humble beginnings, Sri Lanka officially becomes the world’s largest tea exporter for the first time.
Historical figures of Ceylon Tea
Types of tea
Ceylon Black Tea
Ceylon Green Tea
Ceylon White Tea
High-Grown Tea
Mid-Grown Tea
Low-Grown Tea
Best activities
🍃 Emerald Hills & Tea Country Focus
Leave the rushing world behind and step into a landscape painted in endless shades of green. From misty mornings among rolling estates to the roar of hidden waterfalls, immerse yourself in the serene heart of the high country.
