Tea in Sri Lanka
The tea production of Sri Lanka, formerly called Ceylon, is one of the main income sources of the country. It is the fourth largest producer of tea in the world, and the second largest exporter. Around 20% of the teas sold around the world come from Sri Lanka.First crop to receive government sponsorship. First planted in the Dutch era. Private cinnamon plantations were banned by the British and all were under the purview of the East India company. Decommissioned in the 1830s due to an economic slump.Coffee plantation began the in the early 1800s. The death of the industry happened in the 1870s when the plantations were destroyed due to a fungal disease known as ‘coffee rust’ or ‘coffee blight’.
Just drinking a few cups of tea and buying a couple of tea items on your visit to Sri Lanka, is really not the best way to get to know about this aspect of Ceylon. What you truly have to do to understand Sri Lankan Tea is to walk those estate paths and experience it for yourself. You could walk down the lovely cold mountain road that winds its way out of the Nanuoya village, where you end up in if you wish to take a train to Nuwara Eliya town. The road, which lead to the Hatton Road is well made but has little traffic and is best traversed early in the morning. On those dim mist covered mornings it has fresh crunchy leaves with dew floating in the air. The rolling misty green vistas of tea plantations spreading out right next to your feet is an enthralling sight. If you are lucky enough to time it right, you may even pass a few colorful tea pluckers, with the large baskets on their backs fastened with a loop over the top of their heads.
