sri lanka tea

The tea industry is one of the main foreign exchange gaining industry in Sri Lanka also became the world's leading exporter in 1995 shared 23% of the total export higher than Kenya shared 22%. The central highlands of the country, low temperature climate throughout the year, annual rainfall and the level of humidity are more favorable geographical factors for production in high quality tea. The industry was introduced to the country in 1867 by James Taylor, the British planter who arrived in 1852

• Central Province - Kandy, Nuwara-eliya.
• Uva Province - Badulla, Bandarawela, Haputale.
• Southern Province - Galle, Matara and Mulkirigala.
• Sabaragamuwa Province - Ratnapuraya, Kegalle.

James Taylor started the plantation of tea in Loolecondera estate Kandy in 1867. He began the tea plantation an estate of just 19 acres (77,000 m²) and also in 1872 he started a fully equipped tea factory in the same Loolecondera estate.

In year 1875 first shipment of Ceylon tea arrived in London tea auction. Also one million tea packets were sold in Chicago World Fair in 1893.

In year 1971 the government of Sri Lanka nationalised the tea estates owned by the British companies