The town of Nuwara Eliya is in the hill country of Sri Lanka. This is a great place to grow tea because it is up high and has a cool temperature. Large tea farms and tea houses can be found here. You have to learn more about how tea is made when you go to Nuwara Eliya. Going to one of these tea farms is the best way to do it. You can read more about our trip to Sri Lanka’s tea farms and get tips on how to plan your own tea tour in this blog.
Those in Nuwara Eliya grow tea.
When we get in the tuk-tuk, it starts to rain. Today, our driver takes us to two different tea farms. The first one is about 30 km from Nuwara Eliya. As I drive through the rolling countryside, the rain stops and a bit of sun comes out. The tea fields remind me a bit of the Champagne area in France. The house that the farm belongs to is written in big letters. The names of most of the houses sound like they belong in Britain or Scotland.
Take a tour of the Tea Bush teahouse business
The Tea House Tea Bush is our first stop. A friendly Sri Lankan woman named Hansi shows us around the plant as our guide. It’s interesting to see how the green tea leaves are turned into drinkable tea. There are several steps, including drying, rolling, fermenting, oxidizing, drying again, sorting, and mass packing. This tea from Tea Bush is not sold in stores or shops under its own name. It is a “white label” product. All of the tea is brought in big bags to an auction house in Colombo or London, where it is bought by tea shops that name it and sell it in stores like the grocery store.
Did you know? In 1867, a young Scotsman named James Taylor brought tea to Sri Lanka. Most farms at that time grew coffee. When the fungus killed the coffee trees, tea became the most popular crop.
Did you know that tea tasters who work for a living always stand while they taste the tea?
It’s time to taste after an interesting trip. Nine different teas are tried, such as English breakfast tea, golden tea, silver tea, and more. My favorite is golden tea, which comes from a different plant than green or black tea. It’s a little sweeter and not as strong as black tea. Ries and I go to the balcony of the tasting room while the tea is being cleaned. We’ll be able to see the beautiful Ramboda waterfalls. Also, there’s a house next to the factory that has the same view.
The Ramboda waterfall
Our driver asks us if we want to see the Ramboda waterfall when we get back to the tuk-tuk. We don’t say no to that, though. So, after a short time, we are at the base of a beautiful 100-meter-tall waterfall. It has a lot of streams, and each one is more beautiful than the last. This is worth every penny.
A strawberry garden in Adma Argo
The fruit farm in Adma Argo isn’t very big, but I still think everyone should visit it. This is one of Sri Lanka’s popular strawberry farms, and you can buy lots of different things made from strawberries here. We picked strawberry juice, and we have never had a drink that tasted so good. It is highly suggested! You can also get strawberry pancakes, jam, or desserts here.
Finally, we got to the Damro tea farms.
The Damro Tea House is our last stop. There are nice tea fields here that you can walk through, which is a nice touch. To get a good look at the tea leaves. There are a lot of people at the tea plantation, which makes it look a bit more like a business. You can also take a free walk and try some tea here. Late in the afternoon, around 1:00, we got back to our hotel. It was a great morning!
Helpful details about our trip to see tea farms.
This tour of Nuwara Eliya’s tea plantations is not an official trip, but a lot of people do it. We just asked the staff at our hotel, the Blondford Bungalow, if they could set up a tuk-tuk to take us to some tea farms. And that is set up right away. The tuk-tuk driver cost us Rs 2000, which is about 10 euros. It’s free to visit the tea farms and try the tea. It’s also free to visit the waterfall. Our trip took 3.5 hours all together. You can do this on your own bike, but remember that it might rain. There are big changes in the weather here in the mountains.
Information that will help you plan your trip to Nuwara Eliya
In the middle of Sri Lanka, in the mountains, you can find Nuwara Eliya. Sri Lanka is not at all like this place. The English people built it as a place for them to go on vacation and hunt. A lot of English style can still be seen here. There’s a beautiful golf course, an old post office, and homes that look like they were brought there from London.
How long are you going to stay in Nuwara Eliya?
Tea farms are the main reason people go to Nuwara Eliya. You will only need two days to see the city. You will need more time, though, if you also want to go to the Horton Plains from Nuwara Eliya to climb World’s End or walk to Adam’s Peak at night. That’s why I think you should stay three to four nights.
In Nuwara Eliya, where do you sleep?
There are a few nice restaurants in Nuwara Eliya. Most of them are in the English style. Most of the time, the prices are a little higher than in the rest of Sri Lanka, but they are still reasonable. Here are some nice guesthouses and hotels, both cheap and fancy, that we think you should check out.