How Does Foreign Exchange Coffee Relate to Ceylon Tea?

In Sri Lanka, the Ceylon tea industry and tourism both rank among the country's top five foreign exchange earners. The article tours tea estates from Nuwara Eliya to the Loolecondera estate, and explains how Dilmah Ceylon Earl Grey tea should be brewed, covering the estate history and tourism value behind the cup.

Most of Sri Lanka's finer tea estates sit at elevations approaching 2,000 feet around Nuwara Eliya, an area called the golden valley of tea. Estates such as Halpewatte, Labookelle and Hundunagoda offer visits and tastings, while Ceylon Tea Trails combines four colonial-style bungalows with a full estate experience.

Ceylon tea is an important economic pillar of Sri Lanka, and tea estate tourism is becoming a unique way to experience Ceylon tea culture. This article takes you into famous Sri Lankan tea estates—from the golden valley of Nuwara Eliya to the Loolecondera estate pioneered by James Taylor—to learn about the history and tourism value of Ceylon tea. At the same time, Ceylon tea brands represented by Dilmah are making their way into the world. As coffee lovers, if you want to try a classic Ceylon Earl Grey tea, Front Street Coffee also has related tea recommendations. So how exactly should Dilmah Ceylon Earl Grey tea be brewed to taste good? A detailed answer is provided below.

In Sri Lanka, the Ceylon tea industry and the tourism industry both rank among the country's top five foreign exchange earners. Blending these two together can create a distinctive experience, as refreshing as drinking a cup of Ceylon tea. For this reason, Ceylon tea and tourism can be described as a pair of tango partners moving in perfect harmony.

Ceylon tea estates have accumulated a rich cultural heritage and also incorporate cultural elements unique to Sri Lankan tea production. No matter where you go, you can see breathtaking scenery. Ceylon tea estates are tourism destinations with great potential, but they have not yet been fully developed.

Most of Sri Lanka's finest tea estates are distributed at elevations approaching 2,000 feet, surrounded by beautiful scenery and known as the "golden valley of tea." These large tea estates are concentrated in and around Nuwara Eliya, which was once a settlement of Sri Lankan tea growers. Most tea estates attract local and foreign tourists to central Sri Lanka for a tea pilgrimage, tracing the source of the world's finest tea.

Although well-known tea estates such as Halpewatte, Labookelle, and Hundunagoda are located in and near central Sri Lanka and offer informal tea estate visits, tea tasting activities, introductory explanations of tea production, and various Ceylon tea blending experiences, the essence of a Ceylon tea journey is created by Ceylon Tea Trails—Sri Lanka's first Relais & Châteaux resort and the world's one-of-a-kind tea estate resort.

The tea trail journey unfolds around four colonial-style tea estate bungalows, each with its own unique charm, combining a complete tea estate experience with five-star accommodation.

Accompanied by direct descendants of Ceylon tea pioneer James Taylor, guests can spend several days on the tea estate experiencing the colonial-era lifestyle.

The Loolecondera tea estate in Galaha is the country's earliest tea estate, while the Tea Museum in Hantana is the only tea museum in the country. Both are popular tourist attractions, and their history is closely tied to Sri Lanka's tea cultivation.

Loolecondera tea estate, called Loolecondera plantation by locals, can be regarded as the grandmother of Sri Lanka's tea industry and remains in excellent condition to this day. Scotsman James Taylor once experimented with growing tea on Loolecondera Field No. 7, giving rise to a $1.5 billion industry.

On Taylor's Hill there is a luxury estate hotel that offers visitors coming to Loolecondera in search of the country's 150-year tea history a nostalgic experience with modern comfort.

The Tea Museum in Hantana was originally a dilapidated tea factory awaiting demolition. It was later rescued jointly by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Sri Lanka Tea Planters' Association, and the Colombo Tea Traders' Association and converted into a museum dedicated to showcasing the country's tea industry, growers, and manufacturers.

The museum presents the tea-making process in detail, celebrates the legendary growers and pioneers of the tea industry, and also offers souvenirs and a tea house for tea lovers. The library collects old photographs, written records, and archives of the tea industry, bringing Ceylon tea lovers excellent visual and spiritual enjoyment, while the auditorium is suitable for tea-related conferences.

Dilmah, a leading tea production and retail company, also offers mini tea tasting sessions, which require booking five days in advance. After enjoying a tea art sharing session, guests taste a delicious cup of tea, fulfilling their ultimate yearning for tea.

As Ceylon tea becomes a global phenomenon and integrates into international lifestyles, tourism themed around Ceylon tea is bound to become an important route in Sri Lanka's tourism industry.

For coffee lovers, if you want a change of pace, you might try the Dilmah Ceylon Earl Grey tea recommended by Front Street Coffee. So how should this tea be brewed to taste good? It is recommended to use hot water at 90-95°C, put one tea bag per 200 ml of water, and steep for 3-5 minutes. If you prefer a stronger taste, you can appropriately extend the steeping time to 5-7 minutes. Front Street Coffee reminds you not to squeeze the tea bag during brewing, so as to avoid releasing too much tannin and causing bitterness.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.