Ceylon tea is famous all around the world. But in Sri Lanka, where does the best tea come from? That title goes to Nuwara Eliya, without a doubt. Nuwara Eliya is one of the most well-known of Sri Lanka’s tea-growing regions. Do not forget that Nuwara Eliya tea comes with a golden color and a sweetly fragrant flavor, and the infusion in the cup is the lightest (palest) of all the varieties of Ceylon Tea.
Nuwara Eliya tea comes with a delicate fragrance.
Since the early 19th century, Nuwara Eliya has served as the nation’s center for the tea trade. Nuwara Eliya has the most mountainous and highest average elevation. This yields teas with a beautiful scent when combined with low temperatures. This city has very mild and cold weather. Because of this, tourists are drawn to Nuwara Eliya to see an amazing beauty here. The climate is ideal for growing premium tea due to its humidity, low temperatures, and rainfall.
How did tea cultivation begin in Nuwara Eliya?
Nuwara Eliya was initially cultivated with coffee, but due to the elevation and the frequent rains, the production could have been better. Nuwara Eliya’s elevation, climate, soil type, and geology, along with the abundance of tea-producing and processing skills in that area, means that Nuwara Eliya produces some of the best teas Sri Lanka has to offer.
After the coffee blight that struck Sri Lanka in the 1870s, many planters decided to plant tea. The first small plantations began to thrive in 1875, and by the end of the century, Nuwara Eliya was one of the central tea-growing regions in Sri Lanka.
Weather plays a crucial role in tea cultivation in Nuwara Eliya
In Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya tea is grown at a high height in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country and experiences both the eastern and western “quality seasons.” A quick journey from one tea site to another can result in a full charge in weather because the balance between the two climatic systems differs from estate to estate. The tea made in this region is rarefied and refined, easily distinguishing it from lower-grown types.
High quality tea from Nuwara Eliya
There are different categories of Nuwara Eliya tea. Aside from a few exotic kinds, whole-leaf orange pekoe (OP) is the most expensive but sought-after variety. Broken orange pekoe is slightly less costly but still pricey (BOP). High altitude and consistently cold temperatures result in a very slow-growing bush with tiny leaves that, after withering, take on a faint orange tinge that stands out against the darkness. The infusion in the cup is the palest among all the regional kinds of Ceylon Tea, with a gentle golden hue and a delicate yet fragrant bouquet. The leaf takes on a greenish-yellow color after infusion.
Visiting tea states in Nuwara Eliya
The best thing about the tea estates in Nuwara Eliya is that, in addition to tasting the flavorful tea, you can also tour the factories that produce the most fantastic tea in Ceylon. Numerous tea plantations open their gates to visitors due to Sri Lanka’s burgeoning tourism industry.
You may see different tea pickers meticulously selecting the leaves that will eventually be used in the tea-making process when you look closely at the tea fields. The experience starts as you step inside the tea factory. You get to see what happens to the leaves when the tea picker turns them over for processing. What is the best tea factory in Nuwara Eliya? All tea factories offer high-quality products and services, so you can only find the best by planning a Nuwara Eliya tea factory visit during your vacation. Scroll down to see some exciting details about Nuwara Eliya tea factories.
Pedro Tea Factory
You will meet Pedro’s Tea Factory in the rolling green hills around 3.5 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya town. The Lovers’ Leap Ethical Tea Boutique is stylish and has a fantastic view. The experience Pedro Tea Estate provides its visitors sets it apart from the other tea estates in Nuwara Eliya. You will be guided by the whole Pedro tea factory inside. There, you can learn about the steps involved in making tea. The picking of tea leaves, withering, rolling, fermenting, burning, and grading are a few of these steps.
Blue Field Tea Estate
Located 20 kilometers north of Nuwara Eliya, Blue Field Tea Estate is among the most well-known. They are in charge of a sizable estate that surrounds the factory and makes premium tea that is sold all over the world. Bluefield Tea Factory provides tourists a guided tour of the facility, like many other well-known tea factories in Sri Lanka.
While on the trip, you will observe the drying, pressing, and production processes. A guide will explain how each piece of equipment works while you get to see it. Additionally, a tea tasting room featuring a variety of teas will be open to you. You will learn how to make tea correctly and recognize the various kinds of tea there.
Mackwoods
The tea estate is one of the most majestic and enigmatic settings you will ever encounter. You will meet the Mackwoods Tea factory on the A5 highway between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. As it sits on a bend in the road and is entirely white and green, Mackwoods is undoubtedly challenging to miss.
You can try teas flavored with apple, cinnamon, cherry, strawberry, and other flavors while visiting Mackwoods. You will learn about the entire tea-making process when you take the tour. Anybody might love visiting the Mackwoods Tea Museum as well. You can sample tea here in a range of delectable flavors.
Conclusion
Beautiful tea plantations surround the lovely tourist destination of Nuwara Eliya. The weather in this city, also referred to as Little England, is unusually mild and chilly. Tourists are attracted to Nuwara Eliya to witness the breathtaking beauty and to taste freshly made Nuwara Eliya tea from tea factories.
The first small tea plantations began to prosper in 1875, and by the turn of the 20th century, Nuwara Eliya was one of the central tea-growing regions of Ceylon. It had a reputation for producing some of the best teas in the world, which it has kept ever since.
