Produced in Sri Lanka, Ceylon
Tea is one of the finest teas in the world. Sri Lanka produces
an array of fine teas which are unique to each agro climate district
and not found in anywhere of the world. It reserves it's place as
the world's largest tea exporter.
Every morning around 300,000 estate workers pluck several million tea leaves by hand. Only the bud and the two youngest leaves are plucked. An experienced tea plucker gathers up to 60 lbs pounds of tea a day. She will be paid in part on the quantity of leaves harvested.
Similar to wine growing, each estate produces tea in each grade which is peculliar to that locality. This obsession is further complicated in Sri Lanka where the harvest lasts all year around and tang varies from one season to another.
Over sixty per cent of Ceylon Tea is sold at the weekly auctions in Colombo, the business hub of Sri Lanka. This is the largest tea auction center in the world. During the buying and selling at the auction, highly experienced tea tasters assess the quality and value of tea. A tea taster usually does not drink the tea he tastes, but notes appearance, aroma and flavor as he passes along the array of samples.
Unfortunately, once Ceylon Tea leaves Sri Lanka, most of is mixed with lower quality and cheaper produce from other countries. A pack of unblended, genuine Ceylon Tea always contains the lion logo, the symbol of quality.
