What is Ceylon black tea?

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What is Ceylon tea?

Ceylon tea is a quality black tea, celebrated for its quality and enjoyed globally on its own or blended in other famous teas like Earl Grey.

Although its namesake and country of origin is now known as Sri Lanka, Ceylon tea’s brand is so well established and known as a symbol of quality that the tea continues on with the archaic name.

If you’ve sipped on black tea, you might have already tasted a blend with Ceylon tea. For those new to this type of tea, there’s a fascinating story behind it to drink up with your first cup.

Ceylon black tea vs other black teas

Like other black teas, Ceylon comes from the camellia sinensis plant. So, what makes Ceylon tea different from other types of black teas? Its source of quality ranges from the leaf itself to the hands that pick it.

Freshest tea in the global market: Packed within 3 weeks of harvesting to preserve freshness, flavor, and aroma [1].
First Ozone Friendly Tea in the world: Globally certified as ozone friendly by adhering to environmental conventions and agreements [2].
Cleanest tea in the world: Has lowest pesticide residues according to the ISO Technical Committee [1].
Ethically harvested: Sri Lanka’s tea industry is well-regulated and has a unionized workforce [2].
Handpicked leaves: Handpicking the bud and first two tender leaves contributes to polyphenols (has antioxidant activity) including theaflavins, thearubigins, caffeine, essential oils, sugars, and amino acids [2].

Sri Lanka’s official Lion Logo

To control for quality and brand, the Sri Lanka Tea Board labels the packaging of genuine Ceylon tea with a logo [3]. The Ceylon tea logo displays the legendary lion of the Sri Lankan flag.

In order to earn the Lion Logo, tea growers in Sri Lanka must meet a few requirements. These include:

The tea must be exclusively packed in Sri Lanka. 100% Sri Lankan tea packaged elsewhere does not qualify.
Tea tasters from the Sri Lankan Tea Board and an analytical lab must assess quality.
The tea must be exclusively grown and manufactured in Sri Lanka [4].
Tea must be grown and processed following strict guidelines [5].

Legally, however, 100% Sri Lankan tea can still be called Ceylon tea even if it doesn’t meet all the requirements above. Therefore, not all Sri Lankan black tea will have the Lion Logo.

Where is Ceylon tea from?

The founder of Lipton Tea, Thomas Lipton, started his first tea farm in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Ceylon tea began and continues to this day to be grown exclusively in Sri Lanka (formally known as Ceylon under British rule).

Tea’s start in Ceylon is credited to James Taylor, a Scott who introduced tea cultivation just two years before the Coffee Leaf Disease began ravaging the nation’s main economic export, coffee [6]. It began to rise in popularity as a cash crop in the 1880s when almost all coffee had succumbed to the disease.

Ceylon’s unique geography and climate gave it a unique advantage against tea growers in China and India, which until then dominated the world tea market. While it typically takes anywhere from three to six years until you can harvest a tea plant, Ceylon teas can be plucked in as little as two years depending on the elevation.

Did you know? Thomas Lipton, the founder of Lipton Tea, bought his first tea farm in Ceylon [9]. This cut out the middleman and Lipton was able to sell more affordable tea in his grocery stores in Glasgow.

Tea is now such an integral part of Sri Lanka’s modern economy, that numbers speak for themselves. In 2018, tea bushes covered a whopping 25% of Sri Lanka's surface [7]. And as of 2019, Sri Lanka is the fourth largest producer of tea worldwide and the third largest exporter [8].

How is Ceylon tea made?

The Ceylon tea process starts by hand plucking Ceylon tea leaves from the camellia sinensis plant, where all black tea originates [10]. Only the unopened buds and top two leaves are chosen.

The leaves are then bustled away to the factory, where they go through the withering, rolling, oxidation, and heating process. Afterward, the Ceylon tea leaves are finally sorted by size and quality before being packaged and shipped off around the world to enjoy. Throughout the whole production process, Sri Lankan tea growers and manufacturers adhere to strict environmental and social standards that ensure a top level of quality [11].

What does Ceylon tea taste like?

With a signature crisp citrus aroma, Ceylon tea reflects the unique and varying terrain where it's grown [12]. In fact, there is no standard Ceylon tea flavor. Instead, flavors depend on the elevation and associated climates of where the tea grows.

Types of Ceylon tea

Although certified Ceylon tea must adhere to strict standards, the conditions in which it is grown varies tremendously across Sri Lanka, affecting characteristics like Ceylon tea’s flavor, aroma, and color.

High-elevations

(starting at 1,200m or 4,000ft)

Ceylon tea grown in higher elevations above 1,200 meters face chilly winds, dry and cool conditions and mountainous terrain [13]. The result is a light tea with grassy tones.

Mid-elevations

(600m - 1,200m or 2,000ft to 4,000ft)

The first teas in Sri Lanka were first grown at mid-elevation [14]. Ceylon tea from this elevation is described as being rich and smooth and having a light and subtle flavor [9].

Low-elevations

(sea level - 600m or 2,000ft)

In lower elevations, Ceylon tea grows with long stretches of sun, warmth, and moist climates [13]. The black tea from this region has a malt, heavy note and is typically dark and strong [9].

Other popular varieties of Ceylon tea include blends like Earl Grey, English Breakfast, fruit flavored, and spiced [12]. And while you might think of Ceylon as just a black tea, Sri Lanka also grows green and white Ceylon teas!

Ceylon tea health benefits

This famed Sri Lankan tea has numerous health benefits compounded by its adherence to international food safety guidelines and strict processing standards [11].

A 2016 article published in the International Journal of Food Science mentions that the that flavonols in Sri Lankan tea “including myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol” that “could play an important role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegradative and other degenerative diseases [15].”

Additionally, studies with black tea in general have suggested that it may reduce cholesterol, blood sugar, high blood pressure, and symptoms of arthritis [2].

Potential side effects

While Ceylon tea is rich in benefits, there are still potential side effects when drinking it in excess.

Too much caffeine can cause headaches. The FDA recommends no more than 400mg of caffeine each day, approximately 4-6 cups of Ceylon tea.

A 2007 paper published in the Environmental Geochemistry and Health journal explored a potential connection between the fluoride present in Sri Lankan tea and dental diseases [17]. It concluded that with the average Sri Lankan drinking 4-6 cups of tea each day, they consume an average of 0.69 mg of fluoride. The average estimated range of safe and adequate intakes of fluoride is 1.5 - 4.0 mg. Because Sri Lankan drinking water and food sources also tend to be high in fluoride, the levels in tea may put some beyond that safe range.

Does Ceylon tea have caffeine?

Ceylon tea’s caffeine content depends on factors like steep time, leaf size, and quality, but you can expect it to fall in the range of 42 - 78mg [18]. Ahmed Tea lists its Ceylon tea bags as containing 60mg of caffeine.

How to drink your Ceylon tea

As a black tea, Ceylon tea has wonderful versatility to enjoy in a ton of different ways. Served with an added splash of milk or lemon wedge are popular options.

How you make Ceylon tea seems to vary based on whether you use tea bags or loose leaf tea. For example, Twinings suggests steeping Ceylon black tea for three minutes, but leaving a bit longer if you want a bolder taste [19]. Ahmed Tea recommends a longer infusing time of five to seven minutes [20]. Heat your water to a rolling boil or to about 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ceylon tea makes an absolutely delicious accompaniment to pastries and fruit cakes [20]. According to tea experts, your Ceylon will harmonize the best with breakfast, spicy food, beef, lamb, ham, chicken, and likely salted foods [21].

[1] “Pure Ceylon Tea.” Ceylon Tea - World's Finest Tea from Sri Lanka, www.srilankabusiness.com/tea/about-tea/.
[2] “Why Pure Ceylon Tea?” Why Ceylon Tea - Sri Lanka Export Development Board, www.srilankabusiness.com/tea/about-tea/ceylon-tea-benefits.html.
[3] “World's Finest Tea from Sri Lanka Official Site.” Ceylon Tea, 8 Mar. 2021, www.pureceylontea.com/.
[4] “Why 'Ceylon' Tea.” Sri Lanka Tea Board Official Web Site, www.srilankateaboard.lk/index.php/features/why-ceylon-tea.
[5] “Guidelines for the Use of Lion Logo.” Sri Lanka Tea Board, 23 Sept. 1999, www.srilankateaboard.lk/images/sltb_downloads_new/Guidelines%20For%20the%20Use%20of%20Lion%20Logo.pdf.
[6] Wenzlhuemer, Roland. From Coffee to Tea Cultivation in Ceylon, 1880-1900: an Economic and Social History. Brill, 2008.
[7] Winter, Lydia. “Tea in Sri Lanka: a Taste of the Country's Ceylon Tea Industry.” Foodism, 27 Sept. 2019, foodism.co.uk/features/ceylon-tea-sri-lanka/.
[8] “Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC Annual Report 2019/2020.” Ceylon Tea Broker PLC.
[9] Saberi, Helen. Tea: a Global History. Reaktion, 2013.
[10] “Manufacturing.” Sri Lanka Tea Board Official Web Site, www.srilankateaboard.lk/index.php/features/fine-ceylon-tea/manufacturing.
[11] “Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka.” Tea Exporters Association, teasrilanka.org/ceylon-tea.
[12] “Ceylon Black Tea.” Ceylon Black Tea - Best Black Tea in the World - EDB Sri Lanka, www.srilankabusiness.com/tea/black-tea.html.
[13] “Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka.” Tea Exporters Association, teasrilanka.org/growing-regions.
[14] “Types of Ceylon Tea by Region.” The House of Tudor, 30 Mar. 2021, www.tudor-tea.com/types-of-ceylon-tea-by-region/.
[15] Jeganathan, Brasathe et al. “Genetic Variation of Flavonols Quercetin, Myricetin, and Kaempferol in the Sri Lankan Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) and Their Health-Promoting Aspects.” International journal of food science vol. 2016 (2016): 6057434. doi:10.1155/2016/6057434
[16] “Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 12 Dec. 2018, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much.
[17] Chandrajith, Rohana, et al. “Fluoride in Ceylon Tea and Its Implications to Dental Health.” Environmental Geochemistry and Health, vol. 29, no. 5, 2007, pp. 429–434., doi:10.1007/s10653-007-9087-z.
[18] “Tea.” Linus Pauling Institute, 1 Jan. 2021, lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/tea.
[19] “Ceylon - 50 Tea Bags.” Twinings UK & Ireland, 25 Apr. 2021, www.twinings.co.uk/tea/classic-black-teas/ceylon-50-tea-bags.
[20] “Ceylon.” AHMAD TEA USA, ahmadteausa.com/products/ceylon.
[21] “Food Pairing with... Tea!” Twinings UK & Ireland, www.twinings.co.uk/our-communi-tea/latest-news-and-articles/food-pairing-with-tea.

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about the author

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? Raquel is an Arizona-based tea drinker who writes about tea as a side hobby. Her current favorites are Earl Grey with a splash of milk and any Japanese green tea.

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