WORLD FAMOUS CEYLON TEA EXPERIENCE AT INGIRIYA
08:00 Hrs Depart Pier to the Ceylon Tea Ingiriya Tea Plantation with Snack Packs from the Ship.
09:30 Hrs Arrive at Ingiriya Tea Plantation.
09:45 Hrs Special Welcome at the Tea Factory with Garlands made of Tea Leaves.
10:00 Hrs Visit the Plantation and see the Tea Plucking.
10:30 Hrs Visit the Tea Factory. (Thereafter, an opportunity to see Rubber Tapping).
11:30 Hrs A Refreshment of a Cup of Tea with a piece of cake will be served at the Superintendent’s Bungalow. (Opportunity to purchase Factory Fresh Tea).
12:30 Hrs Leave the Tea Plantation and return to the Pier.
14:00 Hrs Arrive at the Pier/ Ship Side.
SERVICE INCLUDES
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Approximate Duration : |
06 Hours |
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Activity Level (Easy, Moderate, Strenuous) |
Moderate |
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List of Sites Visited : |
Ingiriya Tea Factory, Tea Plantation & Rubber Plantation |
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Min No of Pax for Excursion : |
36 |
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Max No of Pax for Excursion : |
108 |
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Meals : |
Not included |
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Refreshment : |
Included (Piece of Cake & Cookies with Tea. Plain Tea or with milk as preferred) |
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Meal / Refreshment Venue : |
At Superintendent’s Bungalow |
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Entrance Fee : |
Included in Tour Cost |
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Guide Fee (Any Language) : |
Included in Tour Cost |
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Porterage & Tips |
Not included (Optional) |
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PARTICIPATION RESTRICTIONS |
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Min Age to Participate – | Max Age to Participate |
Nil |
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Min Height to Participate – | Max Height to Participate |
Nil |
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Min Weight to Participate – | Max Weight to Participate |
Nil |
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Medical Restrictions (if applicable) |
No |
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Wheelchair Access Notes |
Not Recommended |
Tea, The most popular Drink in the World
consumed Throughout the World was discovered by accident when a Chinese Emperor named Chen Nung known as “Devine Healer” stopped for a drink during a Journey in the year 2737 BC. While he boiled the water to purify it, a few leaves fell into the Pot from a nearby Tea Tree. The scent and flavour emanating from the Tea leaves was to the Emperor’s liking and with that first cup, the Humble Tea Leaf made its Royal Debut.
The Story of Ceylon Tea
The Story of Ceylon Tea begins over two hundred years ago when Sri Lanka was a British Colony. The existing Coffee at that time was not destined to succeed in Ceylon and was wiped out by Coffee Blight. Planters switched to the cultivation of Tea and plants from Assam and Calcutta had arrived. Thereafter, the commercial cultivation of Tea commenced in 1867. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stated that the Tea Fields of Ceylon are as true a monument to courage as the Lion at Water Loo.
James Taylor, a Famous Scotsman
James Taylor, a Scotsman, played a very significant role in the development of Ceylon Tea. Taylor’s methods of leaf manipulation in order to obtain the best possible flavor from the Tea Leaves was favourably received by buyers in London. In 1872, the first Official Ceylon Tea was shipped to England containing two packages of 23 lbs. However the first recorded shipment was dispatched to England in 1877 aboard the Vessel the Duke of Argyll.
After the process of plucking and drying, the Tea goes to the auctions. The Tea Auctions are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and all the Tea Tasters are there on these days. Tea dealers buy Tea from the auctions in bulk and blends them with different flavours and packages them for export to World Markets. At the Ingiriya Raigam Tea estate, you will see the sequence of processing the Bulk Tea with machines and until the Packeting by factory workers. Please follow the Guide and also listen to the factory Supervisor. In the packaging unit of the factory, you will see the blending flavouring and Tea Packeting production process.
Tea Tasting
To taste Tea in a professional manner, one requires the basic equipment such as,
1. A Tea tasting set to include tasting bowl and specialised brewing cup with a lid.
2. A weighing scale: to measure accurately an exact 3 grams of Tea.
3. A Tea tasting Spoon: similar to a soup spoon but is deeper in order to hold more volume of liquid.
4. A spittoon: To spit out the Tea that you taste.
5. A timer to Brew Tea for 3 or 4 Minutes precisely.
Tasting without milk is desired for sharper judgment while sweeteners are strictly prohibited.