English Breakfast Tea
English Breakfast Tea
A robust, fruity, full flavoured black tea The best tea to start the day. Sold in 100g bags
£8.70
5
Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea Ceylon OP
Decaffeinated
Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea
Ceylon OP
A tangy fruity Ceylon Orange Pekoe tea Gently decaffeinated Sold in 100g bags
£12.60

Five O'Clock Afternoon Black Tea
Five O'Clock
Afternoon Black Tea
Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up, this blend of Ceylon and Assam black teas is perfect with a biscuit of a piece of cake. Sold in 100g bags
£6.20
Ronnefeldt Light & Late Decaffeinated Breakfast TeaRonnefeldt Light & Late Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea
Decaffeinated
Ronnefeldt Light & Late
Decaffeinated Breakfast Tea
A tangy fruity Ceylon tea Gently decaffeinated Sold in 100g bags
£9.10
5

Ronnefeldt Nuwara EliyaRonnefeldt Nuwara Eliya
Ronnefeldt Nuwara Eliya
A highly aromatic black tea Delicate, tart tea Sold in 100g bags
£7.70
4
English Breakfast TeabagsEnglish Breakfast Teabags
English Breakfast Teabags
A superb traditional English Breakfast tea Drink black or with a dash of milk 1 box contains 20 tea bags
£4.30

Ronnefeldt Teavelope® Decaffeinated Black TeaRonnefeldt Teavelope® Decaffeinated Black Tea
Decaffeinated
Ronnefeldt Teavelope®
Decaffeinated Black Tea
Full-bodied decaffeinated Sumatran tea Lively and aromatic in taste 1 box contains 25 tea bags
£5.50
5
Ronnefeldt Teavelope® Breakfast Tea - stronger brewRonnefeldt Teavelope® Breakfast Tea - stronger brew
Ronnefeldt Teavelope®
Breakfast Tea - stronger brew
Stronger darker breakfast blend Perfect with milk 1 box contains 25 tea bags  
£5.50
5

Ronnefeldt Joy of Tea English Breakfast Tea BagsRonnefeldt Joy of Tea English Breakfast Tea Bags
Ronnefeldt Joy of Tea
English Breakfast Tea Bags
A blend of the best of Ceylon Uva Highland teas A delicious fruity – tangy mix  1 box contains 15 tea bags
from £4.10
Ceylon Orange Pekoe
Ceylon Orange Pekoe
A classic black, aromatic Ceylon tea Sold in 100g bags
£6.20
5

The Unique Qualities of Ceylon Tea

The typical Ceylon tea is of medium strength with a distinct citrusy slightly metallic character and a fair amount of tannin. The cup colour shines in shades of golden-red. Ceylon teas are delicious as single estate teas, or as part of a black tea blend.

 

Harvesting and Production

Sri Lanka grows the famous Ceylon tea. The tea gardens vary in altitude ranging from 500m to 2000m above sea level. The picking times are governed by the monsoon rains: in the eastern UVA district from July to September, in the western Dimbula district from January to March, and all year round in the centre of the island.

The tea industry is a major income source for the country and the people of Sri Lanka are very passionate about their produce. The country is not only the fourth largest tea producer, but also the second largest exporter of tea!

Around 4% of Sri Lanka’s land is covered by tea plantations. However, the tea plant grows best at high altitudes. When the tea leaves are ready they are plucked, usually taking two leaves and a bud, and then weighed. One this step is complete they follow a similar 5 step process to other black teas which is as follows:

  • Withering: Leaves are laid out on large raised tables and left in a room to remove moisture within the leaf, sometimes warm air is blown over the leaves to speed up the process.
  • Rolling: When ready, the tea leaves are then rolled and twisted. This act releases enzymes within the leaf that react with the oxygen in the air.
  • Fermentation: Laid out on a table, the heat triggers fermentation within the leaf. It is important to monitor the temperature and humidity in this step as one mistake could cause the flavour of the tea to disappear.
  • Grading: Once the oxidation process has finished and the leaves are dried to preserve them, the tea is then sorted into grades according to size.

 

History of Ceylon Tea

Small in size but mighty in tea production, the tropical island of Sri Lanka produces some of the world’s finest black tea. The tea was first cultivated by the British during the Victorian times. Prior to this Ceylon was a coffee growing place.

Bolstered by their successful experiment with tea cultivation in Assam, the British began to plant tea across the island and by the end of the nineteenth century Ceylon farmers had created a successful new venture across the whole of Ceylon.

To celebrate the beginning of the tea industry in Sri Lanka a man named James Taylor started his own tea plantation in 1867. By 1872 he had a fully-fledged tea factory and made his first tea sale in the city of Kandy. The very next year, Ceylon tea made its introduction to Britain. 23lbs of the Sri Lankan tea arrived in London!

Sri Lanka benefits from a near perfect location and geography, and it has an enviable microclimate that introduces a complex set of factors (temperature, moisture, and wind) that greatly benefits the character and style of these teas.

Sri Lanka experiences two monsoon seasons, which give all of the tea regions a rainy as well as a dry season, and a season of best quality tea. When the monsoon is drenching one part of the island, the other part is experiencing optimal weather conditions of cool, clear days and bright sunshine for prime tea production.

Tea grows in central Sri Lanka, in six well-known tea-growing districts, each of which features a different elevation: Dimbula, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ruhuna, Uda Pussellawa and UVA. The best quality tea grows in high altitude. The character of Ceylon tea is seen as brisk and full-bodied, not flowery or robust like Darjeeling or Assam. The aroma is fragrant with clear, bright cup colour that range from golden to coppery.

Ceylon teas are normally not designated as first or second flush teas, but are labelled by region, district, estate and grade.

 A museum dedicated to Ceylon tea was opened in Hantana, Kandy in 2001. Giving an insight into the many wonders of Ceylon tea including how it was manufactured years ago. Showing displays of old machinery, some dating back more than a century, and rooms for each production stage, it’s a unique trip through Ceylon Tea history! A must see for fans of Ceylon tea and tea in general! 

 

 

 

How to Brew Ceylon Teas

Whether you want to use the loose leaves or try a tea bag infusion, the standard process is the same.

Brewing Ceylon Tea:

  1. Boil some freshly poured water
  2. Place the tea leaves in a tea strainer
  3. Pour the hot water over the leaves
  4. Steep the tea for the appropriate amount of time
  5. Strain the tea
  6. Add a dash of milk to taste, sweeten if required
  7. Sit back and enjoy!

 

Brewing Table

   Ranging from 1 levelled teaspoon to 1 slightly heaped teaspoon

   2-4 minutes

   A range of colours including: Red Golden, amber, golden brown & coppery

 

NOTE: Please make sure to read the individual brewing instructions on each package of tea.

Ceylon teas are some of the finest, characterised by their fragrant aromas and crisp, citrys flavours

Our Ceylon Tea favourites are:

      English Breakfast Tea              Ceylon Inverness                  Ceylon Orange Pekoe