Have you ever visited a tea estate in Sri Lanka
Majority of the tea estates in Sri Lanka, almost about 80% that produce better type of tea are in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Badulla districts.
Especially at Nuwara Eliya you would find acres and acres of tea plantations covering the hill slopes with green everywhere. Nuwara Eliya with the necessary elevation, favourable mild climatic conditions and the reddish soil rich in humus produce the best Ceylon tea.
Low grown teas in areas between 1000 – 1800 feet in height are found especially in Galle and Ratnapura and have their own flavours, colour , aroma and are of good quality. Mid grown teas between 1800 – 3000 feet are better in flavour, aroma and colour.
Though the plant could grow to about 20 feet height tea bushes are pruned at intervals and not allow to grow more than 3 feet in height to facilitate the easy picking of leaves and to ensure a good supply of fresh young shoots.
Though tea – plucking could be done throughout the year, best months are April and May. Production of quality vanics with the elevation of the land, humus-rich reddish soil, rainfall, method of cultivation and manuring.
Soils should not be allowed to erode by rains as the humus needed for the plant may be washed away. To arrest soil erosiom, other types of plants had been grown amidst the tea bushes especially quick growing leguminous plants which also supply nitrogen to the soil.
Amount of tea manufactured differ annually depend mostly on the climatic conditions and it is roughly about 150 kgs – 600kgs per acre annually.
Grades of tea normally manufactured in Sri Lanka are Broken Orange Pekoe, Orange Pekoe, Peoke etc. In addition to black tea, green tea is also produced by steaming the tea leaf instead of the process of withering and fermenting.
Chief buyers of Sri Lankan tea are USA, Britan, European countries, China, Iran, Iraq, etc.
There are several tea factories open for the visitors with guided tours offered free of charge and many a tea centre runs sales outlets.
Some old factories had been turned into hotels with all the comforts including good food and comfortable accommodation while the sales outlest offer excellent tea. Labukelle tea centre on the Kandy road offers guided tours free of charge and the sales outlet sells best quality tea.
An old tea factory turned into a hote with all the comforts is at Kandapola. Almost the road to Colombo through Hatton,
The Tea Cup’ maintained by the Watwala plantation offers snacks and brewed tea and you could purchase good quality tea at its sales centre.
At Talawakelle along the Hatton Road close to St. Clare waterfalls, you would find a tesraurant which offers open seating and also a sales outlet. You should be careful to buy only the best Sri Lanka tea.
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