Ceylon Heritance

Tea production

Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon) has a climate and varied elevation that allows for the production of both Camellia sinensis var. assamica and Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, with the assamica varietal holding the majority of production. Tea production is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, and accounts for 2% of GDP, contributing over US$1.3 billion in 2021 to the economy of Sri Lanka. It employs, directly or indirectly, over 1 million people, and in 1995 directly employed 215,338 on tea plantations and estates. In addition, tea planting by smallholders is the source of employment for thousands whilst it is also the main form of livelihood for tens of thousands of families. Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth-largest producer of tea. In 1995, it was the world’s leading exporter of tea (rather than producer), with 23% of the total world export, and Sri Lanka ranked second on tea export earnings in 2020 after China. The highest production of 340 million kg was recorded in 2013, while the production in 2014 was slightly reduced to 338 million kg.

The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall of the country’s central highlands provide a climate that favors the production of high-quality tea. On the other hand, tea produced in low-elevation areas such as Matara, Galle, and Ratanapura districts with high rainfall and warm temperature has a high level of astringent properties. The tea biomass production itself is higher in low-elevation areas. Such tea is popular in the Middle East. Sri Lanka produces mostly orthodox black teas but also produces CTC, white and green teas. The two types of green tea produced are the gunpowder type and sencha. The industry was introduced to the country in 1867 by James Taylor, a British planter who arrived in 1852. Tea planting under smallholder conditions has become popular in the 1970s. Most of Sri Lanka’s export market is in the Middle East and Europe but there are also plenty of bidders worldwide for its specialty high-country-grown Nuwara Eliya teas.

Growth and history of commercial production

Registered tea production by elevation

Registered tea production in hectares and total square miles by elevation category in Sri Lanka, 1959–2000:

Year High
altitude
hectares		 Medium
altitude
hectares		 Low
altitude
hectares		 Total
hectares		 Total
square
miles
1985 74,706 89,175 67,769 231,650 894.4
1986 73,206 85,216 64,483 222,905 860.6
1987 72,773 84,445 64,280 221,498 855.2
1988 72,901 84,227 64,555 221,683 855.9
1989 73,110 84,062 64,938 222,110 857.6
1990 73,138 83,223 65,397 221,758 856.2
1991 73,331 82,467 65,893 221,691 856.0
1992 74,141 85,510 62,185 221,836 856.5
1994 51,443 56,155 79,711 187,309 723.2
1995 51,443 56,155 79,711 187,309 723.2
1996 52,272 56,863 79,836 188,971 729.6
1997 51,444 58,155 79,711 189,310 730.9
1998 51,444 58,155 79,711 189,310 730.9
2000 52,272 56,863 79,836 188,971 729.6
Year High
altitude
hectares		 Medium
altitude
hectares		 Low
altitude
hectares		 Total
hectares		 Total
square
miles
1959 74,581 66,711 46,101 187,393 723.5
1960 79,586 69,482 48,113 197,181 761.3
1961 76,557 97,521 63,644 237,722 917.8
1962 76,707 97,857 64,661 239,225 923.7
1963 76,157 95,691 65,862 237,710 917.8
1964 81,538 92,281 65,759 239,578 925.0
1965 87,345 92,806 60,365 240,516 928.6
1966 87,514 93,305 60,563 241,382 932.0
1967 87,520 93,872 60,945 242,337 935.7
1968 81,144 99,359 61,292 241,795 933.6
1969 81,092 98,675 61,616 241,383 932.0
1970 77,549 98,624 65,625 241,798 933.6
1971 77,936 98,624 65,625 242,185 935.1
Year High
altitude
hectares		 Medium
altitude
hectares		 Low
altitude
hectares		 Total
hectares		 Total
square
miles
1972 77,639 98,252 65,968 241,859 933.8
1973 77,793 98,165 66,343 242,301 935.5
1974 77,693 97,875 66,622 242,190 935.1
1975 79,337 98,446 64,099 241,882 933.9
1976 79,877 94,338 66,363 240,578 928.9
1977 79,653 94,835 67,523 242,011 934.4
1978 79,628 95,591 68,023 243,242 939.2
1979 78,614 97,084 68,401 244,099 942.5
1980 78,786 96,950 68,969 244,705 944.8
1981 78,621 96,853 69,444 244,918 945.6
1982 77,769 96,644 67,728 242,141 934.9
1983 71,959 90,272 67,834 230,065 888.3
1984 74,157 90,203 63,514 227,874 879.8

Source: wikipedia.org