TEA PLANTATIONS NUWARA ELIYA – The Complete Guide
Nuwara Eliya is the best known tea-growing district of Sri Lanka with her impressive lush green tea plantations. When you visit Sri Lanka, you can’t miss exploring its incredible tea plantations and learn about tea production. So when you’re in Nuwara Eliya, then you should definitely explore the Nuwara Eliya tea plantations.
The famous Sri Lankan Ceylon tea is, as we may believe by the experts, the finest tea in the world. If you plan to visit Nuwara Eliya, you have to visit one of the tea factories. But besides the impressive lush tea plantations, there are other amazing places to visit in Nuwara Eliya.
Best tours to Nuwara Eliya
If you’re planning to explore the best of what Nuwara Eliya and surroundings can offer, then these are the best guided tours. All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
- Nuwara Eliya tour from Kandy. Discover the picturesque tea-producing region and enjoy a scenic train ride through the tea fields. Visit the Blue Field Tea Factory, Ramboda Falls and Gregory Lake.
- Horton Plains and Tea Factory all-inclusive tour. Visit Horton Plains, World’s end, Bakers waterfalls and a Tea Plantation with a Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya during the day tour.
- Private day tour in Nuwara Eliya. Explore little England, also known as Nuwara Eliya, and discover some wonderful attractions, including Hanuman Temple, Tea Plantation, Ramboda waterfalls, Gregory Lake and Victoria Park.
- Ella: Lipton’s Seat tour with Dambetanna Tea Factory visit. Enjoy the panoramic views of Lipton’s Seat in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a Sri Lankan lunch before you wander through tea plantations and see the full process of tea making at the Dambetanna tea factory.
- 2 day tour to a Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda falls, Horton Plains and more. Visit the scenic hill country, surrounded by the evergreen valleys and tea estates. Witness the beautiful Ramboda waterfall and Horton Plains National Park.
- Tuk-Tuk Safari Day Trip and Tea Fields Hike with Lunch from Ella. Drive through the Sir Lankan countryside on a tuk-tuk safari on this day trip from Ella. Take a guided hike on a tea plantation and stop for a picnic lunch before visiting the Dambatenne Tea Factory.
- Haputale: Tea Plantation, Safari, & Lipton’s Seat Day Tour. Discover Sri Lanka’s historic tea plantations and imagine life as a tea farmer, on this tour of the most prominent sites in Haputala and Kandy. Ride a trusty tuk-tuk rickshaw through the well-kept farms and wild mountainsides.
History of Nuwara Eliya tea plantations
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest tea exporters with an impressive tea industry that dominates the island’s central highlands. Tea first came to Sri Lanka in 1824 for a botanical exhibit, planted by the British. At that time, nobody had any idea what the impact of the introduction of this plant would have to Sri Lanka.
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But the real tea production began 40 year later when a disease had destroyed a lot of the coffee plantations on the island. British tea planter James Taylor found out in 1867 that the highlands of Sri Lanka had a perfect climate with a high altitude and cool weather.
After the introduction, British planters were quick to discover that tea was a lucrative industry. But, as the number of tea factories rose, there was an increased need for human labor. The production of tea involves a tedious procedure of plucking, withering, rolling, oxidizing and drying. A process that requires heavy machines and manpower, which is why workers from Tamil Nadu in India were shipped over to maintain the tea plantations. These people were often an overlooked ethnic minority in Sri Lanka, but they are still the main employees in the Sri Lankan tea industry today.
Did you know that Sri Lanka was the second most important tea producing country in the world in 2008, producing 330 million kilograms tea each year!
A visit to one of the impressive tea factory and tea plantations in Sri Lanka is an absolute must do when you visit Sri Lanka. But make sure to pick the right tour and not an overly crowded tea tour through a tea factory. If you make the time, you’ll find a fascinating story of the tea industry, a central theme to the story of not only Sri Lanka, but also the post-industrialized world.
Things to know before you go on a tea factory tour
- Tea factories are usually open from 10AM – 5PM
- It can be noisy and dusty inside the factory
- Most of the time it is not allowed to take pictures inside the tea factory
- On Sunday most tea factories in Sri Lanka are closed
- A tour through a tea factory usually takes around 30 – 40 minutes
Tea estates in and nearby Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya has quite a large number of tea factories, tea houses and tea fields. One of the most famous is Blue Field Tea Estate which is 20 kilometres north of Nuwara Eliya. They control a large estate around the factory and produce high quality tea that is being exported all over the world. Like many other popular tea factories in Sri Lanka, Bluefield Tea Factory offers a guided tour through the factory for its visitors. During the tour you will see how tea is dried, pressed and produced. You will get to see the various equipment and a guide will explain how they function. You will also visit a tea tasting chamber with different types of teas. There you will get to know the proper way of brewing tea and the various ways to identify the different types of tea.
Another beautiful tea estate which is closer to Nuwara Eliya town, is Pedro tea factory. Only 3.5 kilometres from Nuwara Eliya town, Pedro’s Tea Factory lies nestled in the green hills. The view is incredible and the Lovers’ Leap Ethical Tea Boutique is chic. Although the factory itself a bit small, it is very interesting to see. And because this tea factory is less touristy, it’s more pleasant for people to visit. You can also visit the Lover’s Leap waterfall which is very close to Pedro Tea Factory. The trail to the waterfall goes through the tea fields of Pedro, so this is the perfect combination for a morning hike.
Nuwara Eliya weather
The climate in Nuwara Eliya is generally cool and with a higher chance of rainfall than the rest of Sri Lanka. This is also the reason why there are so many waterfalls in this area and why it is so intense green because of the beautiful tea fields.
The wettest months are October until December. The peak travel time is from March until May which results in higher prices.
More Sri Lanka travel inspiration
I hope you enjoyed this blog post about the Nuwara Eliya tea plantations and will visit some of them yourself!
For more Sri Lanka inspiration, head over to these blog posts:
Best places to visit in Sri Lanka
17 best things to do in Nuwara Eliya
12 amazing waterfalls to visit in Nuwara Eliya
Best things to do in Trincomalee
Hi Ilse, how interesting, your information about the Tea Plantations Nuwara Eliya and the Pedro tea factory in Sri Lanka. And of course your info about the Sri Lanka Ceylon tea. Thanks again for sharing 👍