What is Ceylon tea?
Chinese legend holds that the history of tea began in 2732 BC, when it was accidentally discovered by Emperor Shennong . A leaf from a wild tea tree fell into a pot of water that the emperor was boiling in the garden. The emperor was so intrigued by the taste of the resulting infusion that he began further research on the plant. However, it was Ceylon tea that brought tea to fame in the 19th and 20th centuries , all because it was used by almost every major tea brand in the world!
Where does Ceylon tea come from?
Ceylon tea has been known for centuries as the best tea in the world . What exactly is it and where does it come from?
Ceylon tea comes from the island nation of Sri Lanka , which was previously known as Ceylon when it was under British rule. Tea was first introduced to Sri Lanka by James Taylor in 1867 , and the rest, as they say, is history! Ceylon tea is mainly black tea , but other types, such as green tea, are also grown in Sri Lanka.
Although Sri Lanka is a relatively small country, it has wide variations in altitude , which causes the flavors of the tea produced to vary greatly depending on the region they come from. The main differences in taste are due to climate, soil quality , sunlight, amount of rainfall and plant varieties . Although there are regional nuances, Ceylon tea is generally known for its bold and full flavor. Most teas are hand-processed , which makes them refreshing and bright. Depending on the region, Ceylon tea may have noticeable notes of spices , citrus and chocolate . There are 5 main cultivation areas in Sri Lanka.
What are the types of Ceylon tea?
There are three main types of tea grown in Ceylon:
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The first and most popular is black tea . True Ceylon black tea is made from mature tea bush stems and fermented leaves .
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The second type is green tea , the production of which avoids the fermentation process . Thanks to this, the tea leaves remain green and the brewed infusion has a straw-green color. The tea leaves are dried and heated immediately after the rolling process to stop further fermentation.
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The last type is white tea , also known as " Silver Tips ", which consists only of hand-picked and sun-dried buds. The buds are picked from a unique species of shrub , Camelia Sinensis , whose leaves are longer and have silver tips. It is the least processed tea .
As representatives of the Basilur brand, we are proud to provide the highest quality Ceylon tea . That is why we ensure that we always choose varieties that will provide the best taste to all our products .
If you would like more information about Basilur tea, please chat with us via Basilur's official social media pages.
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