Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business
The Rich Heritage of Ceylon Tea
This picturesque island of Sri Lanka is the origin of the finest in the world, Ceylon tea. The industry was introduced in 1867 by British planter James Taylor as a substitute for coffee. Since then, it has grown to become 19% of the world's demand for this commodity. From there, Sri Lanka rose to become the third largest exporter of tea in the world and has claimed a niche in history for being the supplier of tea at such prestigious events as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Ceylon tea enjoys a reputation for its robust, full, and brisk flavor, and its uniqueness is derived from its diversity in elevation, climate, and soil type. "Lion Logo" is a global brand owned by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and is an assurance of 100% Pure Ceylon Tea guaranteeing quality with every sip in authenticity.
Types of Ceylon Tea
Ceylon tea is well known for its three most significant divisions, black, green, and white. Of these, the most famous and complicated is black Ceylon tea, since it is an infusion made up of fermented leaves combined with aged stems, creating a rich flavor and robust character. Green Ceylon tea skips the fermentation process, keeping the leaf green to create a light, yellowish green colored liquid, which is praised for its fresh taste and high composition of antioxidants. White Ceylon tea is a rare delicacy manufactured from the tender buds of a special clone of Camellia sinensis, hence called 'Silver Tips'. It undergoes very light processing and is sun dried. Its flavor is light while having the most health benefits among the three. These teas are handpicked by skilled expert pluckers, known for their freshness, and packed within three weeks from harvesting to retain maximum flavoury aroma.
A Tea for Every Palate
The diverse flavor profile of Ceylon tea is also attributed to Sri Lanka's unique geography. Low grown teas, which are produced below 2,000 feet, are dark and strong in brew, they are more often sweetened with milk to make them perfect for a robust morning tea. Mid grown teas are grown between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, they offer a well rounded flavor profile with good color and are favored for their balanced taste. High grown teas, for that matter, are premium and have been hand plucked at altitudes over 4,000 feet, especially for their golden hue, delicate flavor, and strong, intensive aroma. Since each region varies in flavor profile from misty highlands to the sunny plains the varieties range from the lightest to the strongest for several palates across the world.
A Global Icon of Quality
Ceylon Tea is an icon of Sri Lankan excellence. It happens to be the world's first ozone friendly tea, meeting the requirements set out by the Montreal Protocol Treaty. Sri Lankan tea estates are FSC accredited and compliant with GLOBAL GAP, ensuring no compromise on social and environmental standards whatsoever. The tea is manufactured in factories that are ISO 22000 and HACCP certified to ensure food safety and hygiene. Ceylon tea has gained a reputation worldwide as the cleanest in terms of pesticide residues, with further confirmation from the ISO Technical Committee. It is a loved hot and cold drink for which each glass is a telltale of quality, tradition, and sustainability.
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