Until the dawn of 1860, Sri Lanka treated coffee as their main export crop, which collapsed due to a severe disease that spread among the coffee plants. However, because of this loss the estate owners varied their investments in other forms of crops. The proprietors of the Loolecondera Estate were interested in planting tea from the late 1850’s. James Taylor who was a Scottish national, was put in charge of the first ever such plantation in a land area of 19 acres during 1867.
Taylor was a person who had some basic knowledge about such cultivation from his stay in North India. He himself came up with the technique of manufacturing tea leaves and owned a fully prepared factory by1872. His product was sold locally and was affirmed to be very delectable indeed. Following its success it was officially sold in the London tea auction in 1873 at a very fine price. It was James Taylor who pioneered the success of Ceylon Tea which is still reputed the world over.
Most of such plantations in Sri Lanka are situated in areas having elevations of 3,000 to 8,000 feet in the south-western section of the island, Galle and eastern Colombo. The best Ceylon Tea is formed mainly from the plants that grow above the elevation of 4,000 feet. In the misty and cooler climate the bushes tend to grow at a slower pace and harvesting is not easy because of the steep slopes.
The main manufacturing areas in the island are Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura, Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya. Each and every area that grows this plant has its own significant flavour, colour and aroma. Low grown produce has a very good quality and flush, however lacks the unique flavour and the fresh tang that comes from the high grown produce which is normally used for blending. It is the mid grown produce that has both taste and colour adequately. If you are looking for the best kinds of tea nothing can beat the high grown produce, though this is a matter of what your taste buds prefer!
Visit Sri Lanka so that you can savour the fresh blends of Ceylon tea amidst a truly breathtaking island setting. John Keells Hotels Group has some of the best Sri Lanka hotels that you can stay at on your visit including a property in the hill kingdom of Kandy, from where you can visit up country tea estates.
