Ceylon Tea has a remarkable and storied history that began in the mid-19th century, when Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was still a British colony. Originally, the island was known for its coffee plantations, but a devastating coffee blight in the 1860s wiped out the majority of the coffee crops. This crisis opened the door for a new chapter in Sri Lankan agriculture, one that would make Ceylon a world leader in tea production.

The transformation began in 1867 when a Scottish planter named James Taylor pioneered tea cultivation in Ceylon. Taylor planted 19 acres of tea at the Loolecondera estate in Kandy, experimenting with methods to perfect the cultivation and processing of tea. His success set the stage for the growth of a thriving tea industry. By the 1880s, British planters had shifted their focus from coffee to tea, and large tracts of land across the island’s central highlands and lowlands were converted into tea estates.

Ceylon’s unique climate—especially in the highlands—proved ideal for growing tea, and the varying elevations produced distinct flavor profiles. Areas like Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Dimbula, and Uva became well-known for producing some of the finest teas in the world, each with its own character and flavor. Nuwara Eliya, for example, produces a delicate and floral tea due to its cooler climate, while lowland teas are stronger and more robust.

The global popularity of Ceylon Tea skyrocketed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly after mechanized tea rolling techniques were introduced. The famous auctions in Colombo, which started in the late 1800s, became an essential hub for trading Ceylon Tea globally. By the 1930s, Sri Lanka was one of the largest exporters of tea, a position it still maintains today.

The branding of Ceylon Tea has also been critical to its success. The “Lion Logo,” introduced by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, guarantees the authenticity and quality of Ceylon Tea, ensuring that consumers receive pure, unblended tea from Sri Lanka. This commitment to quality, along with the organic and fair trade certifications earned by many producers, has helped preserve Ceylon Tea’s reputation as one of the finest teas in the world.