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Food · Sri Lanka

Ceylon Tea: A Traveller's Guide to the Island's Famous Brew

By Days of Iru and Opa
Ceylon Tea: A Traveller's Guide to the Island's Famous Brew
📷 Pixabay · Pixabay · source

Tea is woven into daily life here, and Ceylon tea is prized worldwide. The island grows it at different elevations, and each altitude gives the leaf a different character, from bright and delicate to bold and full-bodied.

High, mid and low grown

High-grown teas from around Nuwara Eliya are lighter and more aromatic. Mid-grown teas are rounded and balanced, while low-grown teas are dark and strong, popular for a milky cup.

Tasting it right

Try the leaf plain and freshly brewed before adding milk or sugar, so you can judge its true flavour. A factory tasting is the easiest way to compare grades side by side.

Buying to take home

Loose leaf from an estate shop keeps better and tastes fresher than tourist tins. Check the grade and pack it well, and be honest with customs rules back home.

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