From Coffee to Ceylon Tea: The Story That Changed Sri Lanka

Did you know that Sri Lanka was once famous for coffee rather than tea?

More than 150 years ago, the island we now know as Sri Lanka was called Ceylon. During the British colonial period, coffee plantations covered large areas of its beautiful hills.

Everything began to change in 1867 when a Scottish planter named James Taylor established a commercial tea plantation at Loolecondera Estate, near Kandy.

At first, tea was a relatively small agricultural experiment. But a devastating disease called coffee leaf rust soon destroyed much of Ceylon's coffee industry.

Tea offered a new opportunity.

As plantations expanded, Ceylon gradually became one of the world's most recognised tea-producing regions. Its tea earned an international reputation for quality, distinctive flavour, and aroma.

In 1972, Ceylon officially became Sri Lanka, but the historic name Ceylon Tea continued to represent the island's tea heritage.

Today, tea remains an important part of Sri Lankan culture and its economy, connecting generations of growers, tea makers, and tea lovers around the world.

Every cup carries a little of that remarkable history.

At SunTeaMeCo, we're proud to share this heritage with tea lovers across Sweden and Europe.

Discover the story. Enjoy the tradition. Taste Ceylon.

Explore our Ceylon tea collection at www.sunteameco.com