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CRISP, ELEGANT
CEYLON LOOSE LEAF TEAS
Ceylon loose leaf teas — grown across Sri Lanka's diverse tea-producing regions — are loved for their brightness, clarity and refreshing character. Our collection spans the full range of island styles: from crisp, brisk high-grown estate blacks to richer, velvety southern teas and a speciality green from the Pussellawa Valley.
Ceylon Teas
Ceylon Teas
With its perfect tea growing climate, Sri Lankan teas are known as some of the finest in the world. Explore top estate teas as well as decaf and green varieties.
Our Ceylon loose teas come from some of the finest tea estates in Sri Lanka, renowned for producing refined, high grade, premium quality leaf teas that are crisp, elegant and wholly refreshing. Ceylon tea can vary in characteristics but is widely appreciated as a bright and lively tea with a delicate flavour. Pure Ceylon Tea is normally drunk black but is also excellent with a splash of milk.
Because tea is grown all over Sri Lanka, in a variety of climates and terrains, the taste of Celyon can be wonderfully varied. Despite the regional nuances, a classic Ceylon flavor is generally thought to be bold, full, and brisk. It has medium-to-full tannins and some notes of citrus, chocolate, or spice. Loose leaf Ceylon teas are made from the dried leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. The leaves are often described as wiry because they are left long and thin with a wirelike look. In the world of tea, these leaves are very easy to recognise. Most Ceylon tea is orthodox tea, meaning it was processed by hand, making a brisk, bright tea.
For an award winning Ceylon loose leaf tea we highly recommend our Ruhunu, Lumbini Estate tea. With its velvety, rich, plum-like taste you will be transported to the fragrant lowland landscapes of Sri Lanka. The Estate is considered one of the finest in the country and this Ceylon tea was justly awarded a one star rating by the Sri Lankan tea board. Although famed for its black teas, Ceylon also produces green teas, with our Melfort Special green tea (Pussellawa Valley) being an excellent example - it has a freshly, scented, fruity and spicy infusion with a golden, full-bodied cup. Our Ceylon loose leaf tea collection also offers a super decaf option - the Dimbula OP, for afternoon drinking, which is decaffeinated using the chemical-free ‘C02 method’, ensuring the taste remains just as delicious as caffeinated black Ceylon teas.
Please note we do not put the coloured name labels on the tea packets only on the gift tubes.
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Sri Lanka's Tea Regions
Ceylon tea comes from Sri Lanka, an island whose growing regions span a remarkable range of altitudes, climates and terrains. From the high-grown gardens of the central highlands to the lower, warmer estates of the south, these contrasting conditions produce teas with very different characters. What unites them is a signature brightness and clarity — a clean, lively quality in the cup that has made Ceylon one of the most consistently admired tea origins in the world.
Flavour and Character
Within our Ceylon tea collection, that range is clear. Ceylon Highgrown Special OP1 shows the classic high-grown style: bright, brisk and lively, with a touch of spice and malt and the refreshing clarity that makes it an excellent everyday tea. Ruhunu – Lumbini Estate OP1 comes from the lower-grown southern region and is a very different proposition — deeper, richer and more velvety, with a rounded, expressive character that holds up well with milk. Melfort Special Green Tea from the Pussellawa Valley adds a fresher, fruitier dimension, showing that Sri Lanka's tea story extends well beyond the classic black.
Brewing Ceylon Tea
Ceylon's brighter black teas are particularly good drunk black, where their clarity and freshness can really shine. Brewed with freshly boiled water for three to four minutes, they make excellent morning or midday cups. The richer Ruhunu style suits milk well and can take a slightly longer steep. The green tea from Melfort rewards a lower temperature — around 75 to 80°C — and a shorter infusion of two to three minutes to bring out its natural sweetness.
Between a high-grown black, a rich southern estate tea and a valley green, this collection shows how much variety a single island can produce. If you have only tried Ceylon as a component in a breakfast blend, these three side by side are a genuinely eye-opening experience.
FAQs
Ceylon tea is tea grown in Sri Lanka. It is especially known for bright, refreshing black teas, though green and speciality teas are also produced.
Ceylon tea is often bright, brisk and lively, but some teas are richer, softer or more aromatic depending on the estate and style.
Many Ceylon teas are excellent drunk black, though fuller-bodied styles can also work very well with a splash of milk.
Yes, most Ceylon teas naturally contain caffeine, including black and green Ceylon teas.
For a classic black tea, try Ceylon Highgrown Special OP1. For a richer, more unusual cup, choose Ruhunu – Lumbini Estate OP1. For a speciality option, try Melfort Special Green Tea.