In Nuwara Eliya, in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, morning mist drifts slowly through the valleys, while tea plants stretch in layered greens across the rolling hills. Workers carry baskets into the tea gardens, deftly plucking tender leaves. The fresh leaves are carefully bagged, weighed, and then sent to the tea factory.
From the garden to the factory, each delicate leaf undergoes a series of processes: withering, rolling, oxidation fermentation, drying, sieving, grading, and packaging. Machines hum softly as workers turn, weigh, dry, and sort the leaves. The green leaves gradually turn deep brown, and the unique color, aroma, and flavor of black tea take shape quietly through the interplay of time and craftsmanship.
This scene has continued on this land for over a century. In the second half of the 19th century, commercial tea cultivation emerged in what was then Ceylon, gradually replacing coffee to become one of the island nation's most important agricultural industries. As tea gardens, factories, and export systems matured, Ceylon black tea traveled from the highlands to the world, becoming a highly recognizable tea symbol in the international market.
Tea is also an important foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka. According to preliminary statistics released by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board based on customs and central bank data, tea export industry accounted for more than 10 percent of the country's merchandise export earnings in 2025, making tea one of Sri Lanka's major merchandise export sectors.
Today, Ceylon black tea has become a proud national symbol of Sri Lanka. Many visitors to the country step into tea gardens, factories, and tea shops, selecting black tea as a souvenir. Crossing mountains and seas, carrying home a wisp of tea fragrance, they cherish within it the warm memories of this beautiful island nation.
Even the old tea gardens are quietly undergoing new changes. In some plantations, agricultural drones glide over the tea rows, applying treatments with precision. Traditional hand-picking and modern agricultural technologies now coexist and intertwine. Agritech is infusing new vitality into this centuries-old industry.
Photographers:Thilina Kaluthotage, Wu Yue
Text: Chen Dongshu, Yu Yang■
