Ceylon Tea (Sri Lanka)

High, mid & low grown — OP, BOP & BOPF orthodox

Sri Lanka grades its tea by growing elevation and the three bands produce genuinely different cups. High grown, above about 1,200 metres in Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva, is light, bright and delicately astringent — the classic elegant Ceylon. Mid grown, from around Kandy at 600 to 1,200 metres, is fuller and richer in colour. Low grown, below 600 metres in Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa, is the strongest and darkest, with a heavy leafy liquor that Middle Eastern, Turkish and CIS markets specifically prefer and pay up for. Manufacture is overwhelmingly orthodox, unusually for a major producing origin, graded OP and OP1 for whole leaf, BOP for broken, BOPF for fannings and dust below that. The Lion logo administered by the Sri Lanka Tea Board certifies wholly Sri Lankan origin, and the Colombo auction sets the market.

Elevation is therefore the first decision, not a quality ranking, and buyers routinely get this backwards. High grown is not simply better than low grown — a Gulf buyer who wants a strong, dark cup will find Nuwara Eliya thin and disappointing, while a European speciality buyer will find Ruhuna coarse. Buy high grown for premium loose-leaf, speciality retail and delicate blends; mid grown as a versatile all-rounder; low grown for Middle Eastern and CIS programmes, strong teabag blends and anywhere colour and body dominate. Ceylon is also the standard base for flavoured teas — Earl Grey most obviously — because its clean brightness carries added flavour without fighting it. CBIL brokers Ceylon by elevation, estate mark, grade and taster assessment against Lion certification, on FOB Colombo, CFR and CIF terms.