Ceylon Tea: Estates, Factories and Tastings
Tea shaped the Sri Lankan highlands, and "Ceylon tea" is still famous worldwide. Visiting a working estate and factory is one of the most rewarding things to do in the hill country, from Nuwara Eliya to Ella and Haputale.
Factory tours
Many estates offer short tours showing how the plucked leaf is withered, rolled, oxidised, dried and graded, usually ending with a tasting. Historic factories like Dambatenne near Haputale are popular.
Walking the estates
Footpaths and old estate roads wind through the tea, and long-distance routes like the Pekoe Trail link villages and viewpoints across the highlands.
Where to go
Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Haputale and Ella all sit among tea estates and make good bases for tastings and walks.
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