Ceylon tea–pure sophistication
SRI LANKA, though relatively small in size, is the world’s fourth largest tea producer. Its annual tea production is approx.320 million kgs., which accounts for 9 percent of the world tea production. Sri Lanka exports most of its tea, making it the world’s second largest exporter of tea. The annual tea export volume of Sri Lanka is over 315 million kgs. It has a share of 18 percent in the global tea export market. In other words, Sri Lanka teas has been developed to cater to the tastes of tea drinkers all around the globe.
The strength of Sri Lanka’s tea lies however not merely in the volume of production, but also in its’ superior quality and taste. Tea thrives on sloping terrain, and is grown in Sri Lanka in the Central highlands and Southern inland foothills, at various elevations.
The teas produced in Sri Lanka vary from small leaf to long leaf teas and from light fragrant cup character to strong, bright coloury cup character. Most of the tea brands and blends in the world market have been enhanced by a percentage of Ceylon Tea. The main characteristics of Ceylon Tea are – rich, mellow flavor, golden colour and pleasant natural aroma, which ensure its popularity whenever Ceylon Tea is drunk.
Much of the black Tea produced in Sri Lanka is by orthodox process. The plucking of tea leaves is done only manually, to make certain that only the unopened leaf bud and two leaves are plucked to guarantee the quality and taste of tea. Sri Lanka also produces a small quantity of CTC ( cut, tear and curl) teas and Green tea, Instant tea and Organic teas.
Sri Lanka produces tea to suit every pallet and this has remained the hallmark of the country’s tea industry. It is the topography of the hill country, with undulating grounds that brings about diversity to the tea. Tea is a product of infinite variety. The tea bush, soil, altitude, climatic changes, wind velocity and seasons all play their part in infusing the varying degrees of quality in to tea. It is so sensitive to atmospheric changes that dayto-day weather changes leave their impression on the quality of the tea.
The diversity in specialty of its orthodox tea process has been the power and strength of tea industry in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Uda Pussellawa, Kandy, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna are the prime tea growing regions of Sri Lanka. Over the years, Sri Lanka has earned a reputation as a producer of high quality tea and Ceylon Tea is synonymous with quality and taste. Ceylon Tea and 07 agro climate regional teas have been registered as geographical indications to prevent misuse of Sri Lankan Teas by overseas packers. Sri Lanka Tea Board conducts Ceylon Specialty Estate Tea of the Year Competition in order to popularize straight-line garden marks and to recognize quality excellence by tea factories in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Tea Board conducted this event in 2008, 2010, 2011 in USA, Japan and Russia respectively.
Sri Lanka exports a large quantity of tea packets and tea bags to add value to its tea than any other tea producing country in the world. The value added tea exports account for nearly 45 percent of the total export volume. Ceylon tea is exported in a wide range of packages i.e. box board, cartons, foil packs, soft wooden boxes, metal cans, ceramic jars wooden boxes etc….the tea bags component has now reached 22 million kgs per day.
Sri Lanka teas reach approximately 160 countries today. At present Middle Eastern countries and Gulf region absorbs over 50 percent of tea exports from Sri Lanka. Since early 1990s, the Russian Federation and CIS countries emerged as major buyers of Ceylon Tea and that region purchases around 25 percent of all exports.
Sri Lanka Tea Board, the apex Government body responsible for development and promotion of Ceylon Tea, has taken many steps to ensure that all teas produced and exported from Sri Lanka adhere to the minimum quality standards of ISO 3720. The promotion of Ceylon Tea linked to the lion logo the symbol which is the trade mark of Sri Lanka Tea Board. Ceylon tea lion logo that appears on Ceylon Tea packs denotes not only the country of origin but also the quality of Ceylon Tea.
Ceylon Tea has been recognized as the cleanest tea in the world in terms of pesticide residues by the International Standards Organization. Currently many Sri Lankan Tea Manufacturers and exporters have obtained ISO, HACCP and other International certifications to be ahead of the other tea producing countries and also to cater to the changing global consumer requirements. Fair trade, ethical tea partnership and good manufacturing practices etc…are the other concepts followed by the Sri Lanka Tea Trade to move into the 21st Century. The commitment of all stakeholders in the industry has helped Sri Lanka to sustain its leadership in the world orthodox tea market and also in value added tea export sector. The Sri Lanka tea industry received another feather in their hat in 2008 when “Montreal Protocol” recognized Ceylon Tea as “Ozone Friendly”, the only team to have achieved such a feat as yet. Sri Lanka Tea Board has registered a new logo for Ozone friendly Pure Ceylon Tea at the National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka in 2010 and plans to promote the most environmentally friendly tea the world over in 2012.