Ceylon Tea Regions - in the highlands of Sri Lanka
Frotoft Estate in the high-grown tea region of Nuwara Eliya
Sri Lanka's tea-growing area is divided up into several agro-climatic regions, which are sometimes called districts. Like French wine-growing regions, each district produces teas of a particular character. The use of the names of the tea regions of Sri Lanka is strictly restricted to teas that are grown and processed entirely in the respective region. Of the seven districts, the two lowland tea regions of Sabaragamuwa (around Ratnapura) und Ruhuna (around Galle) contribute more than 60% of the total of Ceylon tea production.
Nonetheless, it's the central highlands that are known as Sri Lanka's tea-growing area. The reasons for this reputation are twofold. Firstly, highland tea is of higher quality and therefore contributes more to the international appreciation of Ceylon tea. Secondly, the tea plantations in the hills are much more eyecatching than those in the lowlands and they are also more predominent as monoculture covering large areas. It's the highland estates that form the truly iconic Ceylon tea landscape. So it makes sense to call Sri Lanka's hillcountry the Ceylon tea highlands.
The highland area produces both medium-grown and high-grown teas and comprises five of the seven Ceylon tea regions. The highland regions differ much from each other in climate and also in soil composition. The climate does not only depend on altitude, but also on seasonal winds and precipitations, with opposite monsoon and dry periods to the east and west of the main watershed.
Mid-grown teas are from altitudes between 600 and 1100 meters or roughly 2000 to 4000 feet above sea level. The Kandy tea region in the north of the highlands and half of the Uva tea region in the southeast produce mid-grown teas. The higher regions of Uva, particularly on the hills around Haputale and at the slopes of Namunukula, and mainly the three tea regions of Nuwara Eliya and Dimbula and Uda Pussellawa yield high-grown teas. The best altitudes are between 1500 and 1800 meters. However, tea is grown in altitudes up to 2250m.
From a touristical perspective, Nuwara Eliya is not only the highest, but also the most frequented tea region, as its plantations stretch mainly along the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, which is part of the classic route of Sri Lanka round tours. Be aware, Nuwara Eliya tea region is not confined to the valley of Nuwara Eliya. On the contrary, Nuwara Eliya's immediate surroundings cultivate potatoes and vegetables in the first place. Rather, the Nuwara Eliya tea region is situated further downhill, mainly on the slopes of the hills around Kotmale valley, where the large reservoir can be seen. To put it in other words: Ramboda is more at the center of the Nuwara Eliya tea region, whereas the town and valley of Nuwara Eliya form the upper and southernmost edge. The Nuwara Eliya tea region has by far the most tea factories that offer access and guided tours for visitors, the largest visitable factories being Rothschild, Bluefield, and Labookellie, to name a few.
An even larger tea region is Dimbula, which stretches from Nanu Oya just below Nuwara Eliya to the southeast, with Adam's Peak marking the southeastern corner. Dimbula is the tea region crossed by the highland railway line. In the area of Devon and St. Clair's Falls, tea factories can be visited in this large and diverse region.
More visitable tea factories are found in the Uva tea region around the tourist hubs of Haputale and Ella in the southermost mountain range. Uva is known as the Lipton Tea area of Sri Lanka. Spring Valley near Badulla and Madulsima are parts of the Uva tea region that are rarely visited by foreign travelers.
The smallest tea region is Uda Pussellawa, which is situated to the east of Nuwara Eliya and Mount Pidurutalagala. Though the altitudes are the same as those of the Nuwara Eliya tea region, the climate at this side of the main mountain range differs much from that of Nuwara Eliya. Uda Pussellawa is definitely the tea region that can be called off the beaten path from a touristical point of view.
Nonetheless, it's the central highlands that are known as Sri Lanka's tea-growing area. The reasons for this reputation are twofold. Firstly, highland tea is of higher quality and therefore contributes more to the international appreciation of Ceylon tea. Secondly, the tea plantations in the hills are much more eyecatching than those in the lowlands and they are also more predominent as monoculture covering large areas. It's the highland estates that form the truly iconic Ceylon tea landscape. So it makes sense to call Sri Lanka's hillcountry the Ceylon tea highlands.
The highland area produces both medium-grown and high-grown teas and comprises five of the seven Ceylon tea regions. The highland regions differ much from each other in climate and also in soil composition. The climate does not only depend on altitude, but also on seasonal winds and precipitations, with opposite monsoon and dry periods to the east and west of the main watershed.
Mid-grown teas are from altitudes between 600 and 1100 meters or roughly 2000 to 4000 feet above sea level. The Kandy tea region in the north of the highlands and half of the Uva tea region in the southeast produce mid-grown teas. The higher regions of Uva, particularly on the hills around Haputale and at the slopes of Namunukula, and mainly the three tea regions of Nuwara Eliya and Dimbula and Uda Pussellawa yield high-grown teas. The best altitudes are between 1500 and 1800 meters. However, tea is grown in altitudes up to 2250m.
From a touristical perspective, Nuwara Eliya is not only the highest, but also the most frequented tea region, as its plantations stretch mainly along the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, which is part of the classic route of Sri Lanka round tours. Be aware, Nuwara Eliya tea region is not confined to the valley of Nuwara Eliya. On the contrary, Nuwara Eliya's immediate surroundings cultivate potatoes and vegetables in the first place. Rather, the Nuwara Eliya tea region is situated further downhill, mainly on the slopes of the hills around Kotmale valley, where the large reservoir can be seen. To put it in other words: Ramboda is more at the center of the Nuwara Eliya tea region, whereas the town and valley of Nuwara Eliya form the upper and southernmost edge. The Nuwara Eliya tea region has by far the most tea factories that offer access and guided tours for visitors, the largest visitable factories being Rothschild, Bluefield, and Labookellie, to name a few.
An even larger tea region is Dimbula, which stretches from Nanu Oya just below Nuwara Eliya to the southeast, with Adam's Peak marking the southeastern corner. Dimbula is the tea region crossed by the highland railway line. In the area of Devon and St. Clair's Falls, tea factories can be visited in this large and diverse region.
More visitable tea factories are found in the Uva tea region around the tourist hubs of Haputale and Ella in the southermost mountain range. Uva is known as the Lipton Tea area of Sri Lanka. Spring Valley near Badulla and Madulsima are parts of the Uva tea region that are rarely visited by foreign travelers.
The smallest tea region is Uda Pussellawa, which is situated to the east of Nuwara Eliya and Mount Pidurutalagala. Though the altitudes are the same as those of the Nuwara Eliya tea region, the climate at this side of the main mountain range differs much from that of Nuwara Eliya. Uda Pussellawa is definitely the tea region that can be called off the beaten path from a touristical point of view.
for opening a destination page in a new tab, please click the image
for going to the destination page in the same tab, please click the name in the text line below the image
for going to the destination page in the same tab, please click the name in the text line below the image
