Ceylon tea at a crossroads: tradition meets a warming world
The industry that helped define Sri Lanka faces climate stress, labour shortages and shifting tastes.
In the misted highlands of the central province, the rhythms of the tea estate look much as they have for generations. But the industry that gave the world Ceylon tea is changing under pressures it cannot pluck away.
Erratic rainfall and warming temperatures are altering where and how well the bush grows, while younger workers increasingly look beyond the estates for their futures.
Reinventing a national brand
Producers are experimenting with speciality and single-estate teas, betting that quality and story can command higher prices in a crowded global market. The question is whether tradition can adapt fast enough.
Ravi covers technology, heritage and long-form features across the island.
