Ceylon Tea - Know the facts about Sri Lanka's finest tea
Where is Ceylon tea grown? What is another name for Ceylon tea?
Cultivated from the regions of Sri Lanka, Ceylon tea is famous for its bold taste, fragrance, and reddish, golden orange hue. This Sri Lankan tea embodies the culture, legacy, and distinctiveness of the country where it grows. As a matter of fact, this tea is coined after the former name of Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon. Genuine Ceylon tea is a kind of black tea made of dried leaves from the Camellia sinensis tea plant family. Its leaves are coarse and hand-prepared long and thin, which resembles a wire-like appearance.
Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer and third in the exportation of tea in the global market. There are seven tea-growing regions in Sri Lanka, categorized according to the altitude where the tea plants are nurtured. The high-grown tea class is propagated and harvested in regions above 4,000 feet sea level. An example from this tea class from the highest elevation is the Lover's Leap tea blend offered by the English Tea Store brand. The medium-grown tea class is cultivated between 2,000 to 4,000 feet of above sea level, while the low-grown tea group is raised from sea level up to 2,000 feet. The Sri Lanka Tea Board is the lawful proprietor of the Lion Logo of Ceylon Tea. This identifier shows the symbol of quality, produced with utmost craftsmanship and knowledge from trusted master blenders of Sri Lanka.
Tea is produced in several areas in Sri Lanka, such as the regions of Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Uda Pussellawa, Kandy, Ruhuna, and Sabaragamuwa province. Nuwara Eliya is a tea-producing area located at the highest elevation in Sri Lanka. Ceylon tea from this region has a delicate, floral fragrance and a light, crisp taste. High-grown teas from Nuwara Eliya are best served iced or with lemon. Uva is believed as the most popular tea-producing region in Sri Lanka, offering high-grown tea with a unique sweet flavor and woody scent. Dimbula is the third most popular tea-growing district in the country with the tea from this region being a full-bodied infusion yet mild in flavor.
Learn more information about the science of Ceylon tea through the English Tea Store blog.
Is Ceylon made from black tea leaves and the same as Earl Grey tea?
Ceylon, or Sri Lankan tea, is a well-known type of black tea and is also used to concoct different blends like Earl Grey with this tea as the base. It has a distinctively bold, full-bodied flavor adored by tea enthusiasts all over the world. Earl Grey is a blend of black tea but is not always composed of Ceylon tea leaves. Though both are from black tea leaves, these two teas vary in their taste and scent. Ceylon tea has the classic black tea flavor, while Earl Grey bears unique citrus notes that come from bergamot oil.
Differentiating Ceylon and Assam teas
Ceylon and Assam tea are both well-known and adored tea variations grown in South Asia. Ceylon tea estates are in Sri Lanka, while Assamica is cultivated in India. Both are types of black tea but register different tastes. Ceylon tea has an inviting aroma and a soft, clearing relish with a recognizable tartness that is a little more palatable than Assam. The Sri Lankan tea provides relaxing floral and citrus notes in its blend. Assam tea brews a bold flavor with a full-bodied consistency. It has a soft, sweet taste that goes perfectly with hints of dried dark fruit. This Indian tea has a strong character that can accommodate more milk content to improve the taste just how you like it.
What makes Ceylon tea different?
Ceylon tea possesses a few distinct qualities. Its robust flavor is brought by using the youngest and smallest tea leaves from the tip of the shrub. These leaves bear the highest antioxidant and polyphenol count. The strength of the Ceylon tea emerges from the second and third leaves, while the stems identify the tea's color upon infusion into hot water. Ceylon tea is also available in other tea types, such as the most common black, green, white, and oolong varieties. Ceylon is processed in specific methods to result in a particular tea base to fit certain palates.
Does Ceylon tea have high caffeine?
Drinking this tea offers more caffeine than other tea blends, however, its caffeine levels still depend on the leaves used and processed to make the Ceylon tea. Infusing Ceylon tea in tea bags brings an additional amount of caffeine compared to whole tea leaves. The steeping time is also a factor in the release of the strength of this stimulating compound. A cup measuring 8oz. of Ceylon black tea contains 50 to 90 mg of caffeine while brewing Ceylon green tea in the same amount gives 35mg of caffeine per cup. Ceylon white tea only has 6mg of caffeine.
What does Ceylon tea taste like?
The traditional Ceylon tea offers a rich, well-bodied flavor. It is not bitter and has a less sharp taste than other Chinese and Indian tea types. Consuming this tea gives the feeling of comfort as if enjoying a peaceful afternoon tea in the Himalayas. However, Ceylon tea is going to vary depending on the different regions it grows. This tea is usually bold, full, and refreshing, with hints of spices, chocolates, and citrus. Ceylon tea, though bold like the English Breakfast blend, has a lighter brew yet is more fragrant than the latter.
Enjoy the creamy taste of Ceylon tea with milk
Milk is a most famous tea enhancer, especially for a cup of brewed Ceylon black tea version. Remember to pour warm milk to make a soothing creamy blend to your infusion, then complement it with white sugar to bring out a vibrant taste. Stream boiling water over a spoonful of loose Ceylon black tea or tea bag inside your cup and infuse for three to five minutes. Strain the loose tea leaves or take the tea bag out of the brewed liquid, and add warm milk into the blend. You can add ginger or preferred sweeteners according to your taste, mood, or health needs.
Brewing the best Ceylon Tea
With so many varieties to choose from, Ceylon tea offers versatility that boasts a unique taste, even when processed into different tea types. It blends with various ingredients, each bringing Ceylon tea with a luscious twist and upgraded tea-drinking experience. The English Tea Store aims to help you discover the best Ceylon tea for your distinct palate.
100% Pure Ceylon tea
Pure Ceylon tea pertains to the original black tea blend used to produce this Sri Lankan infusion. It infuses a rich, full-flavored cup without the sharp, biting bitterness of other tea types. Taylors of Harrogate Pure Ceylon tea is the ideal embodiment of this. It comes from the Uva and Dimbula estates of Sri Lanka. This brand of Ceylon tea brews to a rosy-colored liquid and has an exquisite taste you can enjoy, hot or iced, at any time of the day.
Ceylon green tea
Apart from the exceptional boldness of Ceylon black tea, its green tea counterpart is rising in the global tea market today. Ceylon green tea provides a mild roasted blend with an earthy fragrance that is so hard to resist. This variation is lightly fermented and processed to retain antioxidants. Ceylon green tea is served hot or iced. Most tropical fruits go great with a Ceylon green tea base. Experience this tea with the inclusion of pineapples, strawberries, mangoes, or peaches when serving Ceylon green tea. Excited to try this blend? English Tea Store has Ceylon green tea in 5-count sampler-size tea bags, so you can explore this refreshing brew.
Ceylon white tea
The very expensive variant of Sri Lankan tea is Ceylon white tea. But what makes it special? Ceylon white tea is a one-of-a-kind type that has a particular method of harvesting. Tea farmers delicately pick the buds, but only at dawn. The buds are never fermented in the process and are rolled by hand, one at a time. Ceylon white tea infuses a light liquid and a soft, sweet taste. Like other white teas, this Ceylon tea category offers less caffeine and more antioxidant content than black and green teas. Though Ceylon white tea is not flourishing in the mass tea market because of its price, it is praised as one of the healthiest tea types to grace the teacup.
Ceylon Orange Pekoe tea
If you are looking for the highest-grade Ceylon tea, its Orange Pekoe variant is the one you're after. Its tea leaves are long, thin, and wiry, infusing an exquisite taste. Orange Pekoe Ceylon tea has a light-bodied brew, concocted with leveled sweetness and sharp flavor. It does not however pertain to a particular style or taste. This tea form points to how Ceylon black tea is graded. It follows the process of handpicking only two leaves and a bud in every tea shrub, withering, rolling, and fermenting. The tea leaves are dried and sifted afterward. Identifying the different grades of leaves happens after the sifting procedure. The biggest tea leaves with a wiry profile are classified as Orange Pekoe. Check out an incredible beverage as you put Twinings Ceylon Orange Pekoe tea in your English Tea Store cart.
Ceylon lemon tea
The tanginess of lemon teams up great with the delightful flavor of this Sri Lankan tea. Ceylon lemon tea has the balanced taste of juicy sweetness and piquancy you can relish from a hot brew or a refreshing iced infusion. Invigorate your taste buds with a zesty cup of brewed brilliance.
Ceylon cinnamon tea
Ceylon cinnamon tea is a pleasantly mild and delicate brew blended with the savory balance of Ceylon black tea's astringency and the spiciness of cinnamon oil. It brings an aromatic infusion into your cup, carrying the scent of cinnamon spice and floral fragrance of Ceylon tea that summons you to its great taste. Spice up your day by brewing up to two and a half teaspoons of Ceylon cinnamon tea in hot water.
Organic Ceylon tea
Sip on this vibrantly classic brew with a smooth texture brought by the partially oxidized young tea leaves of Organic Ceylon loose-leaf tea. It is not too bitter and has floral notes that go deliciously with teacakes. This organic blend offers a light-colored liquor, showing off a bright, yellowish brew to energize your afternoon tea time. The organic Ceylon tea from the English Tea Store is recognized and certified by the USDA and QMI Organic and is a participant in the Ethical Tea Partnership. First-time drinkers of this blend can avail of English Tea Store's organic Ceylon loose-leaf tea in 1oz. trial size.
Ceylon Dimbula tea
Ceylon black tea from the estates in Dimbula, Sri Lanka is a popular substitute for a cup of brewed coffee. It is high in caffeine, making it an excellent tea base for Breakfast teas. Ceylon Dimbula tea provides a strong blended brew with balanced notes of sweet and spicy to kickstart your day. Its inviting perfume fragrance lingers, creating a welcoming feeling that is hard to miss.
Buy the best Ceylon tea brands
Global tea brands do not only offer Ceylon tea as it is, they also use it as a primary ingredient to concoct the world's most sought-after tea blends. Established brands in the global tea market, such as Taylors of Harrogate and Twinings, continue to produce pure Ceylon tea and its delectable variations. English Tea Store has them for you to satisfy any particular tea craving you may have.
The Benefits of Ceylon Black Tea: What is Ceylon tea good for?
Ceylon tea, similar to other tea types from the Camellia sinensis plant, guarantees health benefits thanks to its polyphenol and antioxidant content. It is highly advantageous to one's body and well-being, giving nourishing compounds to keep specific organs of the body in tip-top condition. But what are the health benefits of regular consumption of Ceylon tea?
Ceylon tea has a high composition of certain antioxidants such as myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol. Studies reveal that this tea's health agents prevent oxidative cell damage and protect you from chronic illnesses. Having Ceylon green tea regularly is a great source of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This compound provides health-giving properties evident in studies made on humans and in test-tube experiments. The Sri Lankan tea, regardless of its variety, is composed of manganese, cobalt, chromium, and magnesium.
This tea-rrific beverage serves many health benefits to ensure a fit and healthy body. The English Tea Store is delighted to share this information with you and help you figure out if Ceylon tea is the drink you need for your particular health condition.
Blood sugar stabilizer and diabetes treatment
Increased blood sugar levels in the body result in the development of diabetes and can slow down wound healing, lead to exhaustion, and drop in weight. According to research, Ceylon tea is a perfect addition to your diet to manage blood sugar levels in tea-drinking people, diabetic or not. Studies note that Ceylon does not only decrease blood sugar but also the hormone, insulin, that controls it. As this tea regulates your blood sugar, it keeps you away from the risk of type 2 diabetes advancement. Ceylon tea lowers your cholesterol levels as well due to its rich antioxidant compounds.
Healthy heart
Suffering from a heart ailment requires a lot of care while handling tasks, emotions, and those activities you once did before when it wasn't there. Research determines that heart diseases are one of the leading factors causing more than a quarter percent of the world's deaths. Luckily, some Ceylon tea variants aid in minimizing the dangers of heart disorders and promote a better beating heart. Ceylon black and green teas have health components to bring down bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. A cup of Ceylon tea has 25mg of potassium, which is an ample amount to calm arteries and blood vessel strain. Ceylon black tea, especially with a cinnamon blend, is recommended to consume at breakfast since it keeps blood pressure at a normal rate.
Immune system booster
Block harmful bacteria and viruses by including Ceylon tea in your daily diet. Ceylon tea is composed of antioxidants that boost the production of white blood cells in one's system, while its catechins supply antibacterial and antiviral agents to keep your immunity up at all times. Ceylon black tea with lemon is an effective drink to shield yourself from typical sicknesses such as the common cold or flu because of its Vitamin C and Bioflavonoid Quercetin. Ceylon lemon tea can be a form of antihistamine to relieve you from sneezing, runny or clogged nose, or watery eyes caused by allergic rhinitis.
Kidney stone prevention and gut health promotion
Protect your kidneys from toxic substances ingested in the body. Ceylon tea possesses an EGCG catechin to alleviate the chances of kidney stone formation as it inhibits the emergence of calcium oxalate deposits in the urinary tract as early as possible. Ceylon black tea with bergamot works fantastic as a diuretic, detoxifying the body, preventing acid reflux and constipation, and ensuring the proper functioning of kidneys and digestive organs.
Ceylon black tea contains thearubigin, a polyphenol assisting good digestive flow and thorough gut activity. Nutrients are absorbed by the body through good digestion. It is best to take Ceylon tea habitually to get all the health agents from your stomach to the different parts of your system.
Mental activity and alertness enhancer
Belonging to the Camellia sinensis plant family, Ceylon tea offers different caffeine levels depending on its processed tea base type. This tea boosts your energy, attentiveness to details, and mental alertness. It is a great morning brew to help you get going and keep you throughout the day. Keep your mind focused and get a day's work done smoothly after a cup of Ceylon black tea.
Strong bones and glowing skin
Present yourself with poise by having good body posture supported by strong bones and radiant beauty manifested through your skin's complexion. Ceylon tea has the nurturing compounds to make your aura as vibrant as ever. This beverage helps stop the advancement of osteoporosis, causing the bones to deteriorate and break easily. Ceylon tea's EGCG compound reinforces bone density in general, warding off inflammation and giving a remedy to aching joints.
Ceylon tea has polyphenols to shield your skin from the harmful UV radiation from the sun. It contains antioxidants to conceal noticeable traces of skin aging and block the skin from damage and cancer threat. Ceylon's green tea base rejuvenates the skin and brings back its natural glow.
Weight loss partner
If you're looking to shave a few pounds, a daily cup of Ceylon tea can assist you in your objective of burning unwanted fats and losing that extra weight. Studies reveal that black tea, including its Ceylon variant, hinders fat from being digested and absorbed by the body and lowering calorie intake which contributes to weight gain. Ceylon tea has properties to trigger the release of enzymes that break down fatty cells and hamper them from building up. Studies reported that drinking a green tea-based infusion for three months resulted in successful weight loss, a decrease in waist circumference, depletion of fat mass, and a less body mass index. Ceylon green tea helps improve one's metabolism and promotes healthy living through habitual consumption.