Timeline of Quality Ceylon Tea Production
History of Ceylon Tea
Production
The History of Ceylon Tea begins with the decline of the coffee industry due to many reasons including a blight that wiped out the entire coffee industry in Ceylon within a very short period. One could easily say that the collapse of the Ceylon Coffee Industry gave birth to the Ceylon Tea Industry.
1853
Arrival of James Taylor, Father of Ceylon Tea where he commences work with Thomas Lipton to cultivate Tea in the Hillcountry – Loolecondera Estate
1867
First ever tea estate in Sri Lanka and the first tea field of 20 acres is planted
1872
Sri Lanka’s first tea estate begins its operations
1872
Maskeliya Planters’ Association is formed and James Taylor Sells his first lot of team
1873
James Taylor produces 23 pounds of Loolecondera
1883
First Public Tea Auction was held in Colombo
1894
Ceylon Tea Traders Association was formed
1925
The Tea Research Institute establishes
1941
The first local tea brokerage begins
1944
Formation of Ceylon Tea Estate Employers
1955
The first local tea fields begin cultivation
1965
Sri Lanka becomes the world’s largest tea exporter
1971/72
Governement nationalizes trhe Tea Estates
1976
Start of the export of tea bags
1982
Production and Exportation of Green Tea
1992
Abolishing the export duty and Ad Valorem tax on tea
1993
Privatization of Tea Estates
2001
First online tea sale
2002
Ceylon Tea Museum is opened
