LenstoLens | Ceylon black tea's journey to China-South Asia Expo-Xinhua
LenstoLens | Ceylon black tea's journey to China-South Asia Expo
Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2024-07-29 22:55:18
KUNMING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The 8th China-South Asia Expo was held from July 23 to 28 in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.
This photo taken on July 23, 2024 shows the venue of the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.This panoramic photo shows people visiting the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2024.
At the Sri Lankan exhibition area, Chamara Udugama, the managing director of Tea Talk, is warmly welcoming Chinese visitors and skillfully brewing Ceylon black tea for them. Tea Talk is one of the 2,000 plus Chinese and foreign enterprises participating in this year's China-South Asia Expo. Udugama is from Sri Lanka, where almost everyone is familiar with the story that the first Ceylon tea tree was from China. "Ceylon black tea is now back to its 'hometown'," Udugama said.
Chamara Udugama (C) invites visitors to taste Ceylon black tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.Chamara Udugama (2nd R) invites visitors to taste Ceylon black tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.Chamara Udugama invites visitors to taste Ceylon black tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.Chamara Udugama (L) invites a visitor to taste Ceylon black tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.
In a tea processing factory of Tea Talk in Sri Lanka's southern province Galle, the tea leaves are picked by workers in nearby plantations and transported here. After dehydration, manual rolling, and fermentation, the black tea is packaged and transported to a packing factory in the capital city, Colombo, and waits to be shipped overseas.
A worker displays newly-harvested tea leaves in a tea garden of Tea Talk in Galle, Sri Lanka, July 19, 2024.A worker harvests tea leaves in a tea garden of Tea Talk in Galle, Sri Lanka, July 19, 2024.A worker harvests tea leaves in a tea garden of Tea Talk in Galle, Sri Lanka, July 19, 2024.A worker pours tea leaves into a drying machine in a factory of Tea Talk in Galle, Sri Lanka, July 19, 2024.A worker dehydrates tea leaves in a factory of Tea Talk in Galle, Sri Lanka, July 19, 2024.A worker pours tea leaves into a sorting machine in a factory of Tea Talk in Galle, Sri Lanka, July 19, 2024.Chamara Udugama checks the taste of tea in a packaging factory of Tea Talk in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 17, 2024.A worker packages black tea in a packaging factory of Tea Talk in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 17, 2024.A worker transports black tea in a packaging factory of Tea Talk in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 17, 2024.
Udugama has brought 10 varieties of black tea from six major tea production areas in Sri Lanka, including Kandy, Dimbula and Uva, for Chinese customers at the China-South Asia Expo.
Chamara Udugama arranges his booth at the venue of the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 22, 2024.Chamara Udugama (C) invites visitors to taste Ceylon black tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.Chamara Udugama (L) negotiates the price of Ceylon black tea with customers at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.
"My first overseas exhibition was in Kunming, almost 12 years ago. I have very fond memories of Kunming and the people of China." Since then, he has made dozens of trips between Sri Lanka and China. In recent years, he has participated in various exhibitions in China, including the South China Expo, and also brought his daughter along to help him take care of goods, arrange booths and entertain customers.
Chamara Udugama's daughter makes tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.Chamara Udugama (L) chats with his daughter as they arrange the booth at the venue of the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 22, 2024.Chamara Udugama's daughter makes tea for visitors at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.Chamara Udugama (L) and his daughter leave the venue of the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 26, 2024.
Over the years, Udugama has seen more and more Chinese customers becoming interested in Ceylon black tea. He plans to connect with Chinese partners through the expo. "The expo provides an excellent opportunity and platform for us to understand and participate in the Chinese market, I would like to offer our best Sri Lankan tea to our Chinese friends," said Udugama.
Chamara Udugama displays Ceylon black tea at the 8th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 24, 2024.
Tea originated in China
Prevalent in the world
The magic of tea leaves
Narrows the distance between the hearts and minds of the two peoples
Let friendship cross oceans
Mellow like black tea
Planners: Wang Jianhua, Wang Changshan
Coordinators: Ji Zhepeng, Wu Jingdan, Liao Yujie, Wang Qingqin
Journalists: Ji Zhepeng, Chen Shudong, Ding Yiquan, Hu Chao, Wu Yue, Peng Yikai, Sun Min
Visual designers: Hu Qiusi, Xin Mengchen, Niu Ziyu (intern)
Editors: Cheng Li, Xin Mengchen, Wang Siwei, Liu Lingyi, Zhang Xinjing, Xie Ziyi
