CEYLON TEA TIME WITH PAVITHRI PEIRIS, DIRECTOR OF THE SRI LANKA TEA BOARD

With a background in economics, Pavithri Peiris found her calling in the world of tea by joining the Sri Lanka Tea Board in 2013. Here, she tells us about Ceylon tea and why it has become so popular worldwide.

Does Ceylon tea supply the hospitality market?

Ceylon tea is exported to over 120 countries in both pre-packed and loose tea form. The HORECA segment, which is a booming market around the world, has identified Ceylon tea as one of the most sought-after beverages. Ceylon tea is offered as a straight-line product and sometimes blended with other origin teas.

Furthermore, the diversification of Ceylon tea in forms of orthodox black tea with different leaf styles, CTC teas, green tea, organic teas, bio teas, RTDS, artisanal teas and hand-made teas, presents many unique offerings for the HORECA segment, tea houses, tea bars, tea saloons and more. It should be mentioned that some of the leading and globally recognized Ceylon tea brands are served by major airlines, hotels, restaurants and cafes. Discerning tea consumers around the world look for Ceylon tea to quench their thirst.

Do you have any recommendations for food-tea pairing?

The latest introduction to the Ceylon tea promotional radar is the Tea Master Cup Competition, classified under four main categories, namely: tea preparation; tea tasting; tea pairing; and tea mixology.

Some of the leading Ceylon tea brands have also introduced their own Ceylon tea pairing and mixology programs for the HORECA sector. The major Ceylon tea brand owners run Ceylon tea cafes, both in some of the tea-consuming countries and in Sri Lanka, where they offer lovely food pairings.