Once upon a Tea Plantation...
The ‘Father of Ceylon Tea’ James Taylor, arrived in Ceylon in the year 1852 where, over the years he experimented in growing tea. He succeeded in planting the first commercial crop in 1867. His process was basic. The leaves were hand-rolled on tables and then fired on clay stoves, after which they were aired on wire trays. And the final result was perfect Ceylon Tea which is said to have been truly delicious. This was the beginning of an iconic brand that paved the way for a multi-million dollar industry. Today, Ceylon Tea epitomises the ‘best tea’ in the world. The Lion logo which symbolises 100% Pure Ceylon Tea is carried across all packaging and is recognised globally, as the ultimate stamp of quality and taste.
James Taylor, who would forever be known as ‘The Father of Ceylon Tea’, passed away of an illness, leaving behind a legacy so rich and flavourful, it would be known as the ‘world’s best’, in the years to come! He was buried in a cemetery in Kandy, close to where he lived and close to where his one true love was grown.
As the industry grew over the years, Ceylon Tea gained the reputation of being the finest in the world and tea exports became the mainstay of the then colonial economy. Housewives and restaurateurs across the globe grew familiar with the name Ceylon and the Lion logo, learning that its appearance on a tin or packet reliably guaranteed the quality of the tea inside.
Independence to Ceylon brought new markets and production continued to increase. In 1965, Ceylon became the world’s largest exporter of tea—for the first time. And to this day, Sri Lanka remains one of the largest tea exporters to the world.