ලංකා තේ ඉතිහාසය
Tea (Camellia Sinensis) came to be a principal crop in Sri Lanka in the early 1870s’. Prior to 1870s Sri Lanka’s main crop was coffee and no planter showed much interest in tea. The Pioneer of commercial tea cultivation in Sri Lanka was James Taylor who arrived in Ceylon in 1852 to work in “coffee plantations”. In 1869, a leaf disease destroyed the Island’s coffee plantations and estate owners looked for alternative crops. The 19 acre Loolecondara Estate where Taylor did the first commercial planting of tea became the model for future development of the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Other planters quickly followed Taylor. From 400 hectares in 1875, the Island’s tea extent grew to 120,000 hectares by 1900. Today it covers 200,000 hectares in the highlands and southern low land areas of the country. This pioneer period laid the foundation for the gentle green countryside which is characteristic of the tea growing areas of Sri Lanka today.
The first ever tea auction was conducted on 30th of July 1883, by Mr.William Somerville at the Broking House in Colombo. Five lots of choicest Ceylon Tea were offered. The first lot of 999 pounds, described in the catalogue as” Kaboragalla unsorted” was sold and the rest were unsold. Today Colombo is considered the largest tea auction center in the world.
In 1873, a small package of 23 pounds was exported from Sri Lanka, formally known as Ceylon, to the United Kingdom. In 1886, the quantity had increased to nine million pounds and the estimate for 1890 was forty million. Sri Lanka emerged as the world’s largest tea exporter in 1990, with production increasing after the re-privatization of plantation management. Sri Lanka’s tea production is around 300 million kilograms, with a share of around 22 percent of world tea exports. Around 20 percent of Sri Lanka’s export earnings come from Tea, which also contributes significantly to government revenue and Gross Domestic Product. The tea industry generates 600,000 direct jobs (and many more indirectly) and is Sri Lanka’s largest single employer.
Ceylon Tea Lion Logo which appears on Ceylon tea packs denotes not only the country of origin but also the quality of Ceylon Tea. Sri Lanka Tea Board is the legitimate owner of the Ceylon Tea Lion logo which has been registered in many countries in the world. The usage of Lion Logo is subject to the following conditions: The Lion Logo can be used only on consumer packs of Ceylon tea; The packs should contain 100% pure Ceylon tea; The brands which use the Lion Logo should be packed in Sri Lanka. Overseas Importers/packers are not allowed to use the Lion Logo on their tea packs even if the packs contain pure Ceylon Tea; The brands which use the Lion Logo should conform to the quality standards set out by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. When you next buy your tea look for the Lion Logo on the pack which is your guarantee for quality pure Ceylon tea.
Tea Growing Regions
Nuwara Eliya – Delicate and highly perfumed, teas from the mountain peaks of Sri Lanka over 6000 feet are known as “champagne” among teas. These teas are from the gardens nestled among the misty hills of the Nuwara Eliya, a town affectionately known as “Little England”. This unmatched gourmet specialty tea with the pale yellowish orange brew and the unique taste will entice the true tea connoisseur. Nuwara Eliya teas is what Darjeeling teas to India. Dimbula – Grown between 4000-6000 feet from the sea level on the western hills of the central mountains, Dimbula tea is a bright rosy red tea with a special character. This tea gives the impression of one’s mouth drying up after tasting synonymous with good quality tea. The sweet taste of Dimbula is well known and is a part of every major tea brand of repute. The cold winds that blow throughout the nights and the clear blue skies experienced during the daytime from late January to early April bring forth this superior Dimbula flavour tea unique to the Dimbula valley. Like all Ceylon teas, it is an excellent breakfast tea, but also great pick me up throughout the day. Uva – Perhaps the most famous of Ceylon teas. Grown from 3500-4500 feet from the sea level in the eastern slopes of the central mountains Uva tea provide a bright brisk flavour and unique taste with a orange/red cup colour.The quality reaches peak level from August to September co-inciding with the South western monsoon. During this time extreme dry winds, cause the tea bush leaves to close tightly, and the lowered moisture content of these closed leaves increases the flavour. Kandy – Teas from Kandy are famous for it’s full bodied cup with extra strength. Kandy is among the first areas to be planted with tea and still held at high esteem by those who prefer a robust strong cup of tea. It is ideal to be drunk with milk. Ruhuna – Teas from sea level to 1500 feet elevation, Ruhuna teas are well made and twisted black teas with a smooth flavour. This exclusive tea offer attractive red cup colour, high strength and has the taste Ceylon tea is world-famous for. It’s a perfect cup for those who like their tea thick and strong, with or without milk.
Who Are We………………
We, Randy Tea House – is one of the most innovative and successful tea merchants in the world operating from Colombo, Sri Lanka. We invite you to Take a closer look at our story of presenting tastiest tea you can ever imagine, in world class packaging under our premium Brand – ‘Randy Tea’
The Desire of an Englishman for a Perfect Cup of Tea…………
In 1906, Englishman planter Arthur Randy, with the intentions of starting a plantation of newly introduced Tea, came to Sri Lanka, which was known to world as British Colony ‘Ceylon’. With him, there was his family – wife, two sons and the daughter and also six other planters from Britain. They all settled in the plantation capital of Ceylon, Nuwara-Eliya that was given the name ‘Little England’ at that time by the British rulers. This name is in the existence even today as Nuwara-Eliya has everything similar to old England – cool climate, greenish gardens and the mystic mountains with crystal-clear streams. In early 1920’s, Arthur Randy owned one of the best tea plantations in the under the British flag. After him, his elder son – William Randy took over the plantation and developed it further more and more importantly, twisted and changed the destiny of his family name historically. By 1948, Ceylonese won the freedom from British rulers and the Union-Jack, after several years of struggles and the country changed the name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka. William Randy, who is in deep love with the beautiful tiny island and also had the desires to offer the best tea to world, introduced ‘Randy Tea’ Brand to world in the same year commemorating country’s freedom from Englishman after 133 years.
At the same time, he founded a similar but smaller Randy Tea House in a small cottage near Hampton Road in Twickenham of Richmond up on the north bank of River Thames. It was totally a family business from the beginning which met with a tremendous success in a short period of time due to the united effort of every member involved in the business and above all – simply because of the William Randy’s commitment to give the best and the tastiest teas to his customers, continuously.
Today, our products are being sold several countries in Europe and Middle East but our biggest output goes to Russia and to Ukraine where we have a tremendous growth over the past decade.
Sri Lanka was ruled by 181 Kings and Queens from the Anuradhapura to Kandy periods.
The history of Sri Lanka
The history of Sri Lanka begins around 30,000 years ago. Chronicles, including the Mahawansa, the Dipavamsa, the Culavamsa and the Rajaveliya, record events from the beginnings of the Sinhalese monarchy in the 6th century BC, the Tamil Elara (monarch) in the 2nd century BC; through the arrival of European Colonialists in the 16th century; and to the disestablishment of the monarchy in 1815. Some mentions of the country are found in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Lankavatara Sutra Mahayana Buddhism texts of Gautama Lord Buddha’s teachings. Buddhism was introduced in the 3rd century BC by Arhath Mahinda (son of the Indian emperor Ashoka the Great).