A little island, world renowned for tea
The history of Ceylon tea begins, ironically, with coffee — and tells a story of how a single verandah in the hill country came to define quality tea worldwide.
Where it began
From coffee crisis to tea empire
Sri Lanka — then Ceylon — had been under British rule since 1815. Holding the island was considered vital, but the military and infrastructure cost of doing so was prohibitive, and coffee was seen as the way to fund it.
Edward Barnes arrived in 1824. Around the same time, a tea plant brought from the highlands of China was planted — for curiosity, not commerce — in the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. Further experimental plantings followed in 1839, brought from Assam and Calcutta via the East India Trading Company. Barnes had already laid the groundwork that let coffee planters access the resources they needed, developing the very regions tea would later make famous.
Quick facts
The moments that built the industry
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1867James Taylor, eager to experiment with tea, set up his own tea "factory" — probably the country's first — in the verandah of his bungalow at Loolecondera Estate.
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1883The first public Colombo Tea Auction was held at the premises of Somerville & Co. on 30 July, under the auspices of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
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1870s–80sRapid expansion of the industry drew serious interest from large British companies, who took over many of the small original estates.
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TodayTea remains one of Sri Lanka's most important sources of foreign exchange, accounting for 65% of export-agriculture revenue and employing over 2 million people.
Terroir
150 years — and a thousand more
The alchemy of land, sun and rain across the paradise island once known as Ceylon presented ideal conditions for tea. Rather than one uniform crop, Ceylon tea added a new dimension — real variation in taste, quality, character and appearance, shaped largely by the terroir of each growing region.
Ceylon tea has charmed its way into royal courts and the cups of Hollywood's leading names. It has endured for over 150 years, and every batch we grade and export carries that same distinct character forward.
The golden Lion
100% Pure Ceylon Tea, packed in Sri Lanka
The Lion logo signifies genuine, 100% Pure Ceylon Tea packed at origin — renowned as some of the finest tea in the world, and the first to be certified Ozone-friendly. Every Regency Teas export carries that same standard forward.
Taste the story
Explore our Ceylon tea ranges
From single-region black teas to wellness infusions — every pack traces back to the same hill-country heritage.