Ceylon Tea, a Bold Tea from 7 Unique Regions
Learn more about the Ceylon Tea, a world's favorite due its bold and yet unique and varied flavors!
Ceylon tea is one of the world's favorite teas due to its bold flavor. Although characterized with a bold flavor profile, the flavors of this Sri Lankan type of tea do vary significantly from tea garden to tea garden.
This is a result of as many as 28 grades and the seven distinct tea growing regions in Sri Lanka, each featuring different elevations, climates and soil conditions.
Origins of Ceylon Tea
Ceylon tea is from Sri Lanka. It is grown in its half a million acres of tea gardens, from mountainous to tropical areas.
Each garden has its own unique flavor, but Ceylon tends to be strong with a note of spice.
Oxidation of Ceylon Tea
The oxidation or fermentation process involves withering the leaves for several hours which oxidizes the flavonoids and darkens the leaves.
Black tea is fully oxidized unlike green or white tea which gives it the bold flavor and the dark color.
Oxidation is completed when the leaves turn a copper red (1). The process is stopped by drying the leaves.
Processing of Ceylon Tea
Sri Lanka generally uses the traditional Orthodox method for processing Ceylon black tea. It is a time-consuming process, but it results in a higher quality of tea.
Types of Ceylon Tea
Although Ceylon Tea is generally black, there are green, white, and oolong tea produced in Sri Lanka. For black Ceylon tea, there are a variety of types named after each tea growing region.
Each type has a unique flavor based on the altitude it is grown at, the landscape, rainfall, and soil.
These seven regions are:
- Nuwara Eliya which features the highest average elevation of the seven regions and a low temperature.
- Dimbula which features "high grown" teas, where all estates are located at an elevation greater than 1,250 metres above sea level.
- Uva, a remote region that is exposed to high winds and monsoons, resulting in exotic aromatics.
- Uda Pussellawa, located close to Nuwara Eliya, also features a relatively cold climate and lots of rainfall.
- Kandy, a region that is sheltered from the monsoon winds and its teas are considered "mid-grown", cultivated at less than 1,250 metres above sea level.
- Ruhuna, a low elevation region featuring coastal planes and abutting the Sinharaja rainforest.
- Sabaragamuwa, the largest tea growing region in Sri Lanka, also featuring "low-grown" teas (less than 600 metres above sea level).
Ceylon tea from Dimbula is one of the most famous and perhaps my favorite Ceylon. Which one is yours?
Did you know?
Ceylon is famous for its black teas but they also produce white teas!
Ceylon Tea Preparation
Like most black teas, Ceylon black tea takes water temperatures near boiling and can be steeped for up to five minutes.
- Boil water. Filtered cold water is best, so the water does not change the flavor of your tea.
- Use one teabag or one teaspoon per cup.
- Pour the hot water over the tea. We recommend letting it a rest for a couple of minutes before pouring.
- Stir the leaves to ensure a balanced flavor throughout the water.
- Steep for 2 to 5 minutes.
Great Potential Benefits of Ceylon Tea
As Ceylon is grown at high altitudes in the highlands, it may contain higher levels of some antioxidants including myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol which help prevent chronic disease.
Recommended Product
If you would like to try Ceylon Tea, we recommend this Ceylon from Alwazah. Alwazah tea is reasonably priced making it ideal for everyday use. It has a light consistency and no bitterness.
Ceylon Black Tea
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there different grades of Ceylon tea?
Yes. There are many different grades from BOP to PEKOE, to DUST. Each grade has a different kind of leaf from medium-sized to curly. DUST is the lowest grade as it is broken up which damages the oils in the leaves.
What health benefits does Ceylon tea have?
Just like other black teas, Ceylon black tea is great for your health. A study found that people who drank 4 cups or more of black tea every day had a lower risk of stroke (2).
What kind of nutrition value does Ceylon tea have?
Ceylon black tea has no salt, sugar, fat, or carbs. With only 2 calories in black tea, it is a great way to lose weight or drink while on the Keto diet.
Bottom Line
The varieties and distinct flavors of Ceylon mean you could drink nothing but this type of black tea for months and still come across new flavors.
I hope you get to try Ceylon Tea. If so, let me know in the comments which one you liked the most!
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace professional medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Do not consume any type of tea if you are allergic to it. The information in this article is not intended to treat serious medical conditions. Please seek professional medical advice before using home remedies.