Kandy, home to Loolecondera estate, is where the commercial cultivation of tea began. The region is famous for mid-grown teas where the altitude is between 2000-4000 Ft. As the region is surrounded by mountains, it is protected against winds, thus the tea is usually Stronger and darker in color and has a coppery tone to it. However, depending on the exact altitude in which the tea is grown, Kandy produces a variety of strengths and styles. Tea grown at a lower elevation has a larger leaf and which gives a strong flavor when infused and tea grown at a higher elevation produces a smaller leaf and has a mild and delicate flavor to it. The harvest is at its best during the first quarter of the year.
Uda Pusselawa, is the smallest tea producing district, located between the Kandy and Uva districts. The district is almost dedicated to cultivating tea at an average elevation of 6,400ft. The climate of Uda Pussellawa is different from western plantation areas such as Nuwara Eliya and is closer to the weather in Uva. The district gets majority of its rainfall from the northeast monsoon from November to January. Harvesting is done twice a year and the tea produced has a delicate flowery scent, medium body and gentle character. Rains heavier than usual can lead to tea which is stronger and darker in color and flavor.
Home to famous tea gardens such as Bogawanthalawa and Moray, Dimbula is one of the oldest tea plantation districts in Sri Lanka. Tea is cultivated at an average elevation between 3500-5000ft. Dimbula teas are slow growing and have small leaves. The South-West Monsoon rains have a significant impact on the quality of Dimbula teas. The period between January – March is the best season for harvesting Dimbula tea. The tea has light flavour and is delicate and fragrant with a flowery aroma.
Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country, located at an elevation of approximately 6000 ft above sea level. Tea is grown amidst cold winds scented with mint and eucalyptus, frosty nights and moderate rainfall which gives the tea a unique flavor. It has a delicate, slightly reddish broken leaf which is golden in colour and produces a greenish yellow color when infused, palest in all regions. Tea grown in Nuwara Eliya has an elegant well distinguishable taste and is considered the finest tea in the world.
Sabaragamuwa is the biggest tea-growing region in Sri Lanka where the tea is low grown at an elevation of around 2,500ft. The district enjoys the highest rainfall and produces a large harvest. More prominence has been given to Sabaragamuwa tea with the increased demand for Ceylon tea from Middle East and the Soviet Union. Tea is grown in climatic conditions created by the rainforests, cloud forests and high, grassy plains surrounding the tea plantations of the district. The tea is fast growing and has a long leaf which produces a dark yellow color with a reddish tint when brewed. The aroma is of caramel, not very strong but stylish and different from the aroma of any other teas.
Ruhuna, which is the name used to refer to the southern part of the country during ancient times, is the tea growing district in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Tea plantations where the teas are grown in low hills along the coastal plain, are mostly spanned across the western part of the province. This area is referred to as the wet zone and gets rain from the south west monsoon.
The teas of the Ruhuna district are low grown and the plantations are at an average altitude below 2000ft. The soil, combined with the low elevation of the estates, helps rapid growth of the tea plant and gives a long leaf which is beautiful. The tea is strong and has a rich copper read colour. Ruhuna is famous for the flavoured black tea. Ruhuna produces a range of non-oxidized teas and has also entered production of Green and White teas.
The unique character of Uva tea is recognized and acknowledged all over the world. It was with tea grown and manufactured on his Uva estates that Sir Thomas Lipton, the great Victorian magnate, first persuaded Americans to take up the tea-drinking habit. The Uva leaf is more blackened by withering than that of any other district. Uva Produce full range of whole and small-leaf as well as CTC varieties. During the July-September eastern quality season, the desiccated monsoon wind or kacchan disrupts normal photosynthesis in the tea plant, while the hot days and cold nights bring about chemical changes that improve the ‘nose’ and flavour.
© for Regalo by : 230 Interactive
