The cultivation of tea was introduced to Sri Lanka during the time the country was under British Colonial rule over 130 years ago. Today some 190,000 hectares in the island's picturesque hill country and the southern inland are covered with carefully pruned tea bushes.
The influence of climatic conditions imparts to the product a variety of flavours and aromas, synonymous with quality. Depending on the altitude at which it is grown, tea is categorized low, medium and high grown. High grown teas include the legendary Nuwara Eliya, Uva and Dimbula, which are reputed for their exquisite flavours and aroma. The medium grown tea provides a strong high coloured brew, while lower growing area are producing a leafy grade which provides a strong sweet brew. Sri Lanka supplies the world with a variety of teas ranging from black tea, green tea in bulk and in value added form in assorted packaging-tea bags, gift packs, flavoured, instant as well as certified organically grown tea for the health-conscious environment friendly consumers.
Tea is the cheapest, pleasant and refreshing beverage (second only to water) possessing nutritional and pharmacological properties. Scientific findings have proven the beneficial effect of its chemical components to the human body. research has focused on the nutritional and pharmacological value of caffeine, polyphenol fractions and antioxidants of tea.
In 1998 the tea industry once again emerged the single most dominant industry of the Sri Lanka economy. The production of tea in Sri Lanka reached a peak level in 1998, achieving a figure of 280 Mn. Kg. improving the previous best of 276 Mn. Kg. in 1997. Sri Lanka exported a record quantity of 271 Mn. Kg. in 1998 as against the previous best of 268 Mn. kg. in 1997. The overall improvement of value added teas is also a prominent feature which could be seen during the recent past. The improvement in the average unit FOB price is another noteworthy feature. The combined benefits of improved production, higher sales averages, larger export volumes and greater earnings from kilograms of tea have propelled the total foreign exchange earnings fro tea to a record level of US$ 780 Mn.
In 1998, the CIS recorded the biggest off-take from Sri Lanka with collective exports amounting to 44 Mn. Kg. The UAE emerged number two with 35 Mn. Kg. followed by Turkey (29 Mn. Kg.), Syria (19 Mn. Kg.) and Libiya (13 Mn. Kg.). Over the years more than 60% of Ceylon tea exports have been absorbed by Middle East and Gulf Countries.
The Lion Logo depicted in the Ceylon Tea packs is a symbol which guarantees a 100% pure Ceylon blend of the finest teas quality pre-packed in Sri Lanka.
| Nutrition Provided by the average daily consumption # of tea | | | Amount provided by 24 fl.oz of tea with semi-skimmed milk
| Percentage of Recommended Nutrient Intake..* | | Energy | 200kJ (48 kcal) | 2.5 | | Protein | 3.41 g | 7.5 | | Carbohydrate | 4.77 g | 2.0 | | Fat | 1.36g | 1.8 | | Minerals | Amount provided by 24 fl.oz of tea with semi-skimmed milk
| Percentage of Recommended Nutrient Intake..* | | Calcium | 109 mg | 16 | | Manganese |  | 45 | | Potassium | 300 mg | 9 | | Zinc | 0.68 mg | 10 | | Vitamins | Amount provided by 24 fl.oz of tea with semi-skimmed milk
(micro grams)
| Percentage of Recommended Nutrient Intake..* | | Thiamin(B1) | 70 | 9 | | Riboflavin(B2) | 270 | 25 | | Vitamin(B6) | 70 | 6 | | Folic Acid | 20 | 10 | # Average daily consumption of tea is 3.43 cups (650ml)
* Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) is the amount of each nutrient which should be present in the daily diet as recommended by the Department of Health in the report, Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom, HMSO 1991.
( Source: Tea & Health Report - The U.K. Tea Council) |
