Everything you want to know about Ceylon tea. 

Ceylon tea is a tea brand which Sri Lanka manufactures. Ceylon tea is not just a commercial product but also a representation of Sri Lankan heritage, culture, and identity. Sri Lanka claimed to be the third-largest tea exporter and the fourth largest tea producer in the world in 2019. It is lovely that the world’s most quality and cleanest tea comes from this tiny island of just 65000 sq. km. Any tea aesthete would not hesitate to applaud Ceylon tea as it has already become the “favorite tea” of many. Ceylon tea leaves provide this much of a rich taste, thanks to the island’s location and its unbelievable climate. 

 

Where is Ceylon?

Sri Lanka used to be a colony of the British Empire, and they named it Ceylon then. It is a beautiful single island country in South Asia, in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka has received the name “the pearl of the Indian ocean” due to its excellent shape and location. Even though this island has a limited land area, every inch of it is rich and fertile. These geographical and climatic conditions have made Sri Lanka great for tea plantations.  

 

What Is Ceylon Tea Meaning?

Ceylon tea represents the tea produced in the Sri Lankan highlands. Like the other tea types, the processed and dried leaves of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) have made it. However, it can contain a higher concentration of several antioxidants, like quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. The flavors of Ceylon tea can be slightly different. Unique environmental conditions where tea grows to give the full-bodied taste and the tea’s notes of citrus. In conclusion, Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka high comes with high antioxidant content and a distinct flavor.

 

 

 

The Legend of Ceylon Tea History. 

 

In 1824, the British bought the first tea plant from China and planted it in the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy. As known, it is the first non-commercial tea crop that grew in the country. After two decades, in 1867, James Taylor, a Scotsman, received growing tea as a commercial crop. He planted tea on 19 acres in Loolecondera Estate, Kandy. As the country was suffering from destructive coffee blight, coffee cultivators accepted tea as a valued commercial crop. Taylor did many tea experiments and soon set up his own tea ‘factory’ in his bungalow’s verandah in Loolecondera. Here he used a primary mechanism to have delicious tea as the final result. Tylor later created basic machinery for making tea with many others to send 23 tea pounds to London. Taylor contributed a lot to develop the tea industry until he died in 1892.  

 

Tea production multiplied in Sri Lanka with all coffee plantations that converted to tea. Therefore country showed a dramatic increase in tea plantations growing to nearly 400,000 acres in around 1899. The British administration encouraged tea production a lot with new factories and machinery. Ceylon Tea soon started drawing the attraction worldwide, selling a recorded number of tea packets in the global market. Even after Sri Lanka parted from being a British colony, the national and international demand for Ceylon Tea stood the same. 

 

Ceylon tea benefits

 

• Impressive Nutritional Profile

Ceylon tea is a good source of antioxidants like quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. Antioxidants are compounds that are helpful to counter oxidative cell damage. Research suggests that antioxidants protect against chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. 

All Ceylon tea types supply a tiny amount of caffeine and several trace minerals, including chromium, manganese, cobalt, and magnesium. 

• May Aid Weight Loss

Some studies show that having tea in the daily diet can enhance weight loss by burning fat. They also say that hot tea consumption can course lower body mass index and lower waist circumference. 

Black tea helps cut down bodyweight by absorption of fat and blocking digestion to reduce calorie intake. 

Another study showed that using green tea extract for 12 weeks led to a significant decrease in body weight and waist circumference. 

• Help Stabilize Blood Sugar

High blood sugar can course health issues like fatigue, weight loss, and delayed wound healing. 

Research suggests that drinking certain types of Ceylon tea daily can help keep steady blood sugar levels and prevent adverse side effects.

For instance, one study showed that drinking black tea could significantly reduce blood sugar levels in people with or without prediabetes.

Similarly, another review noted that drinking green tea effectively reduced both blood sugar and insulin levels.  

Also, regular tea consumption may course a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

 

• Support Heart Health

Heart diseases have coursed an estimated 31.5% of deaths worldwide.  

Certain Ceylon tea varieties may help decrease the risk of heart disease and improve heart health.

Studies show that green tea and its components can reduce total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. They say black tea also provides the same benefit, but definite results are still at the experiment level.

 

• Potential Side Effects

Ceylon tea is a safe and healthy integration to your diet when you consume it in moderation.

Anyway, depending on the type of tea, Ceylon tea caffeine content is about 14–61 mg per serving.  

Caffeine can be addictive, and it can also course side effects like insomnia, anxiety, digestive issues, and high blood pressure.

For pregnant women, the instructed limit of caffeine intake is less than 200 mg per day. Extra caffeine can course the substance across the placenta and boost the risk of low birth weight or miscarriage. Caffeine can interact with certain medications, including medications for heart conditions and asthma, certain antibiotics, and stimulants. 

The good news is that the Ceylon tea caffeine limit is still much lower than beverages like coffee. However, it’s best to stick with only a few servings per day to reduce your risk of unnecessary effects. Be sure to consult a doctor if you got any concerns.

 

Does Ceylon tea make you sleepy?

 

As we talked about earlier, tea grown in the region of Ceylon has high caffeine content. Thus, this tea can increase energy levels. It is not only that caffeine increases body energy, but it also makes the mind more alert and attentive. Thus, Ceylon tea helps you have a better sleep reduce anxiety. However, drinking Ceylon tea does not make us sleep in an instant. It instead helps to concentrate with greater consciousness. 

 

 

Sri Lanka tea types

Tea basics

Depending on the places the plants grow, the tea flavor can be different. This makes Ceylon tea very special. Ceylon Tea has been the base tea of choice for most worldwide tea manufacturers since the 19th century. Nationals trust that their groundwater contains magical qualities for growing tea plants and brewing them.

Camellia Sinensis plant can offer four basic kinds of tea. Although all tea types come from the same plant, the soil and weather give each plant a different flavor. There are five regions in Sri Lanka where tea plants grow, each at a different altitude. Each region produces tea with slightly different tastes. All Sri Lankan tea manufacturers offer their tea in or pyramid tea bag presentations or loose leaf. 

 

Ceylon tea tastes you can find. 

 

What tea comes from Sri Lanka?

There are four main types of teas in Ceylon Tea. Those are, 

•  Black Tea, 
•  Green Tea, 
•  White Tea 
•  Oolong Tea,

All the above types are available as loose leaf tea, tea packets, and tea bags. Again, these tea types are available in Decaffeinated, Organic, and Instant tea versions for bulk and retail purchase. Also, Ceylon Tea is available in spice, fruit, herbal, and many other flavors. In the market you can find these types of tea products in Sri Lanka. 

• Tea Bags
• Tea in Bulk
• Instant Tea
• Green Tea
• Other Tea
• Organic Ceylon Tea
• Oolong Tea
• Infusions
• White Tea
• Black Tea
• Herbal Tea
• Tea packets

 

Here we discuss the different types of tea in detail. It is you who can choose the best Ceylon tea according to your taste and interests. 

 

 

1. Ceylon black tea

This is the most common tea kind and no wonder if someone will just say yes to “Is Ceylon tea black tea”? Ceylon black tea is famous as the cleanest tea globally, and it is free of harmful addictive or pesticides. Sri Lankan tea factories manufacture black tea using hand-plucked tea leaves and buds. Before turning into black tea, tea leaves have to go through a withering, rolling, fermenting, drying, and sifting process. There are many different grades of black tea, starting from Orange Pekoe (large wiry leaves) to dust grade. Every grade has a unique color and intensity.

 

Ceylon black tea types

• Broken Pekoe Special (BPS)
• Broken Pekoe 1 (BP1)
• Broken Pekoe Leaf (BPL)
• Pekoe Fanning’s One (PF1)
• Pekoe Dust (PD)

 

Special Ceylon tea flavor types. 

• CEYLON EARL GREY TEA

Ceylon Earl Grey Tea is a combination of bergamot oil and rich strong-bodied Ceylon Black Tea. This is a tea blend that represents the crisp flavor of Ceylon Tea and natural citrus aroma. 

• CEYLON ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA

This is a full-bodied, strong tea with rich flavors that goes well with milk and sugar. Ceylon English Breakfast is a genius blend of Ceylon Black Tea from the Kandy and Dimbula regions.

• FRUIT FLAVOURED BLACK TEA

The obscure flavor of Ceylon Black Tea sits well with a range of fruits. These fruit flavors vary from passion fruit, exotic mango, and lychee to well-known strawberry, raspberry, and lemon flavors. 

• SPICE FLAVOURED BLACK TEA

Here the Ceylon Black Tea brings the traditional ginger and cinnamon flavor, adding extra zest to the teacup. Clove and cardamom are some other spices that come with spice-flavored black tea. 

• DECAFFEINATED BLACK TEA

Decaffeinated Ceylon Black Tea has used pressurized liquid carbon dioxide to conserve the tea’s freshness and flavor. All decaffeinated Ceylon Black Tea types contain less than 2.5% of the original caffeine quantity.

 

2. Ceylon green tea

Although Ceylon black tea has taken popularity the most, Sri Lanka made similar quality green tea. The history of Ceylon Green Tea begins in 1842 with Sir Anthony Oliphant, chief justice of Ceylon. He cultivated and manufactured green tea following a Chinese method. Today, eleven manufacturers are producing green Ceylon tea on several estates in several districts. Among the types produced on these estates, there are

• Young Hyson (including Chun Mee), 
• Sou Mei or ‘longevity tea,’ 
• Rolled’ gunpowder’ tea, 
• Green tea fannings 
• Sencha fannings. 

Relevant companies are manufacturing these green tea under both Chinese and Japanese tea-making methods. 

The healthful properties of green tea and the pleasures of drinking tea are getting popular worldwide. It has coursed the green Ceylon Tea drags the attraction vastly around the world. 

 

What is

 

good for?

 

• Improve brain function
• Increase fat burning
• Lower the risk of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers
• Lower the risk of heart disease
• Help weight loss

 

3. Ceylon milk tea.

Ever wonder about, the question, “Do you drink Ceylon tea with milk”? Ceylon tea has got a tremendous bold flavor which is perfect with milk or on its own. It is kind of a great tea to drink, iced or hot. Ceylon black tea is excellent with milk, spices, and sweetener. So it matches perfectly with Chai Latte or Thai iced tea. Ceylon tea is a favorite beverage of many tea drinkers. Milk is one of the most famous enhancements to Ceylon tea. But make sure to add milk only to a strong brewed black tea. And as the cold water would bring down the brew’s heat, always add warm milk to the tea. Usually, milk tea tastes better with white sugar than brown sugar as it yields a preferable taste. This recipe is a regular Sri Lankan tea recipe for its people and also the country’s most common formula. 

 

4. Mango Ceylon tea

Mango Ceylon tea is a beautiful blend of natural mango flavor and delicate black tea. Mango Ceylon tea is sweet, light, and full of flavor and contains lower than half of the caffeine compared to coffee. This sweet and unique black tea is a beautiful way to get up in the morning. There are some less-known benefits of black mango tea. 

Benefits of Mango Black Tea

If you think that Camellia Assamica or Camellia Sinensis only produces black tea, you probably have mistaken a point. The ancient practice of black tea from above plants is widespread in the late 16th century. Now its alternatives are also gaining popularity in the recent past. Mango, also known as the ‘king of fruits,’ has many favorable properties that improve the human body’s health.  

 

 

The essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B, and C lie in the mango fruit and the mango leaf. Therefore, if you choose mango black tea, you can add up vital vitamins to the body. Instead of searching for other supplements, it would be a more excellent idea to go for black tea. There the body can have the vitamins and additional nutrients easily. Therefore, this is a good way for the people that live in under-developed countries to restore their bodies with vitamins.

The mangoes contain potent flavonoids, antioxidants, and phenols either in the fruit or in the leaves. These materials are beneficial in inhibiting and controlling various diseases for the human body.

So without a doubt, the benefits of mango black tea have to drag popularity among people. So people could take correct advantage of black tea. Maybe some more deep research might result in revealing more medicinal values for the sake of humankind.

 

5. Ceylon Lemon tea

Lemon or Lime flavored tea is another type of most attractive recipe of Ceylon tea. The light brew of tea comes with a charming scent and a citrus flavor that is great for freshness. Vitamin C from the lemon flavor and multivitamins from tea brew combines for a healthier beverage. 

 

How to Drink Ceylon Tea

 

As we have talked so much about Ceylon tea, what about an actual sip that brings you the zest? How to make Ceylon tea?  

The diversity of Ceylon tea types make a path to a great variety in how a person can enjoy it. Ceylon tea is a famous base for iced tea. It also makes one of the most delicious hot teas you can find. This tea type goes with the term “self-drinker,” as it describes tea that requires no enhancements. They are already perfect in their way. Milk tea also makes an ideal combination of milk and black Ceylon tea. This tea is a perfect way to soften out the flavor and bitterness available in Ceylon tea.

First, to brew Ceylon tea, fill a teapot and a teacup about halfway with warm water to preheat them. After that, pour the water out and add one teaspoon of leaves per 8 ounces of water into the teapot. Fill the teapot with boiling water (194 to 205 F), cover it, and let steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Once the leaves get settled at the teapot’s bottom, stir up the tea and allow proper extraction. The longer the tea brews, the higher the strength of flavor and caffeine content.

 

 

What does Ceylon Tea Taste Like?

 

Let us talk about how does Ceylon tea tastes, is Ceylon tea strong, and should you start drinking it? The region of Ceylon is not that large. Wonderfully, the range of physical geography there is enormous. There is a wide variety of soil types, elevation, and even weather.

As the climatic conditions changes vastly, the tea from different areas can taste differently. Generally, Ceylon tea has a bold and very full taste. The exciting thing is that the teas can have hints of chocolate, citrus, and spices because of these various regions. Regardless of the regional nuances, the classic Ceylon flavor is generally known to be bold, brisk, and complete. It has medium-to-full tannins and some notes of chocolate, citrus, or spice. 

 

Green Ceylon tea generally has a highly-flavored and nutty taste. This taste comes probably because the tea leaves are almost fresh without being much processed yet. In contrast, all black tea versions have a mild citrus taste because of the fully fermented leaves. Finally, white Ceylon tea comes with the lightest and sweetest flavor.

The main active ingredients in Ceylon teas are polyphenols. Although this ingredient gives the tea a tangy taste, it also provides numerous health benefits. 

 

 

Organic Ceylon tea

 

Tea planters of Sri Lanka have prioritized ecosystems’ protection and sustainability that incorporate tea gardens since the industry began. In keeping with the conservation and traditions of sustainability, Ceylon Tea cultivators have adopted organic tea production. This step has contributed to providing a purer flavor that is also preferable for the environment.

 ECOCERT IMO, USDA Organic and Control Union Certifications have certified that organic Ceylon tea is free of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers herbicides. Organic Ceylon Tea also matches with Japanese Agriculture Standards (JAS) and European Economic Community (EEC 2092 / 91) certifications (EU).

 

Benefits of organic Ceylon tea.

The overall advantages that organic Ceylon Tea offers to health, farmers, and environment can be innumerable;

• GOOD FOR HEALTH

Organic Ceylon tea is hand plucked and mainly produced under orthodox methods. Ceylon Tea grants many health advantages to consumers with its high-level flavonoids. Due to its purity of composition and flavor, this tea provides the tea drinkers with the full benefits Pure Ceylon Tea offers. As it keeps out of chemical contamination and toxins, organic Ceylon tea derives the best health benefits without harmful chemicals.

• GOOD FOR CULTIVATORS

Organic tea farms do not need the administration of chemical fertilizer or pesticides. So they do not expose plantation workers or tea farmers to the harmful effects of toxic chemicals.

Many Sri Lankan organic tea plantations are small and medium scaled. The organic Ceylon Tea cultivation allows these farmers to compete in global platforms. This enables them with more economic capacity.

• GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT

Most of the tea plantations are in higher elevations in Sri Lanka. So fertilizers and chemical pesticides used in tea cultivations can affect the groundwater cycles and the rivers and streams. They also can be harmful to the biodiversity of the surrounding ecosystems. Pesticides can imbalance an ecosystem by destroying the harmful microbes and insects and their natural predators (spiders and ladybugs). These pesticides bring danger fungi and bacteria required for soil functions as well.

So, not using chemicals confirms the delicate balance of the ecosystem to last the same. Organic plantations benefit tea cultivation in the long-term as the soil pollution is zero. 

 

Ceylon Tea Companies and Brands.

Several competing companies manufacture various Ceylon tea products and sell them in the global market.

• AKBAR BROTHERS PVT LTD
• AMAZON TRADING PVT LTD
• ANVERALLY & SONS PVT LTD
• BIO FOODS PVT LTD
• DILMAH CEYLON TEA COMPANY PLC
• EMPIRE TEAS PVT LTD
• FINLAY’S COLOMBO PLC
• GEORGE STEUART TEAS PVT LTD
• INTER TEA PVT LTD
• JAFFERJEE BROTHERS

 

Pure Ceylon tea.

What is pure Ceylon tea? The term “pure Ceylon tea” belongs to originally Sri Lankan made tea. 

• Ceylon Tea is grown and manufactured according to uncompromising, traditional standards and methods since 1880.
• The Government has certified the quality of Ceylon tea. Consumers can identify the original products by the name ‘Ceylon Tea‘ and the famous “Lion logo.” That represents the tea has grown and manufactured entirely in Sri Lanka under the Sri Lanka Tea Board’s quality standards.
• Ceylon Tea is an excellent name for its variety in taste, appearance, and character based on different regions tea grows. There are seven agro-climatic regions where tea grows – Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Uda Pussellawa, Dimbula, Kandy, Ruhuna & Sabaragamuwa
• The Low Grown tea comes from below 2000-ft sea level Sri Lankan regions. This tea is notable for its special leaf appearance’ uniformly black.’ Also, this is very popular in the Middle East for its super quality and strong – reddish brewed liquor.
• The High Grown tea that grows above 4000-ft sea level, on the other hand, is famous for its bright, brisk, color, and aromatic liquors. This high-grown Ceylon tea does not share the gross, black color and brown in leaf appearance. This tea offers unsurpassed liquors ranging from deep red, bright golden color to light brown. 

 

• Sri Lanka manufactures the cleanest tea in the world. Ceylon tea keeps its position in the industry as the ‘Best in Class’ manufacturer of quality tea. The Technical Committee of the ISO has considered Ceylon tea as the cleanest tea in the world.
• Sri Lanka has joined hands with nature-related international conventions & agreements and became the first ozone-friendly tea manufacturer. 
• The Ceylon tea industry is running ethically according to a collective labor agreement and unionized workforce.
• Ceylon tea uses an original orthodox tea manufacturing process.
• Handpicked Ceylon tea preserves the inherent aroma and the freshness of the tea. 

Choosing this 100% organic and fair-trade, green Ceylon tea and Ceylon black tea will directly support small organic farmers.  

 

Factors why Ceylon tea is the “best in the world.”

One can say god chose Sri Lanka himself for the cultivation of tea. This tiny country has got all the accordant conditions necessary for producing the best tea in the world. Ceylon tea carries the best taste, color, and aroma among any other tea.

The conditions answerable for the healthiest tea crop that are present in Sri Lanka are:

• Humid atmosphere
• Favourable temperature
• Optimum rainfall
• Fertile soil with minerals
• Mineral-rich groundwater
• Best cultivation practices – growing, harvesting, processing

 

Where to buy Ceylon tea?

In many countries worldwide, one can easily buy the average tea brands in either tea bags or loose tea. Some brands sell tea of various types and various qualities. They are usually available in the market.  

But when we consider Ceylon tea, keep in mind that you will have to be very careful. There are plenty of brands that sell poor-quality blended tea under the name Ceylon tea. Check the box for the “Lion Logo” and the term “Ceylon tea” to ensure the product is genuine. If any of those two are not available on the box, they are not 100% pure Ceylon tea. To make sure you buy original Ceylon tea with excellent quality, you can either get it from a trustworthy brand. You can search for authentic Ceylon tea online as well. You can search “Ceylon tea amazon” on the internet and readily claim the tea type you want. 

 

  Monthly Ceylon tea prices (average) for all three elevations in Sri Lankan Rupees & US dollars per Kilogram. 

 

Months	2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021
	Rs.	US $	Rs.	US $	Rs.	US $	Rs.	US $	Rs.	US $	Rs.	US $
Jan	410.88	2.85	596.90	3.95	637.75	4.16	587.16	3.23	588.85	3.27	645.02	3.39
Feb	403.84	2.83	596.85	3.97	633.73	4.10	581.96	3.27	604.46	3.35	648.34	3.32
Mar	412.03	2.87	638.76	4.01	613.13	3.95	585.92	3.38	595.22	3.08
April	429.34	2.99	648.52	4.05	609.00	3.88	578.23	3.34	696.20	3.66
May	449.15	3.08	628.74	4.02	591.24	3.76	539.55	3.09	697.57	3.76
June	432.12	2.96	606.87	3.95	545.67	3.39	494.48	2.78	612.67	3.30
July	453.27	3.18	593.09	3.86	536.85	3.41	497.35	2.84	611.25	3.32
Aug	505.40	3.46	632.00	4.13	534.02	3.34	545.34	3.06	618.32	3.37
Sep	526.86	3.60	654.41	4.27	537.77	3.25	512.83	2.88	619.33	3.35
Oct	577.08	3.88	647.61	4.19	586.19	3.48	527.34	2.94	643.70	3.51
Nov	599.10	4.01	628.98	4.11	589.35	3.36	569.67	3.19	641.66	3.47
Dec	580.46	3.91	619.11	4.11	572.64	3.18	577.29	3.21	644.07	3.41

 

 

Conclusion.

Ceylon tea is the known best tea in the world. Geographical conditions needed for tea plantation are plentiful in Sri Lanka, which has coursed good quality Ceylon tea. All types of tea provide health benefits for the human body. Thankfully, the caffeine level of Ceylon tea is also lower than any harmful level. New flavors and types of Ceylon tea have started to come out to the market lately. Thus, there is a number of Ceylon tea products available in both physical and online markets. When purchasing, it is necessary to check for the original products as many fake and mixed tea can be there.