(updated June 2026)
The allure of Sri Lanka’s tea country is undeniable. Rolling hills of tea plants shrouded in mist are a sight to behold. If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, the lush tea fields are a must-see attraction.
Formerly known as “Ceylon”, Sri Lanka is synonymous with tea and tea culture. Therefore, a visit to Sri Lanka’s verdant tea fields should be on every traveler’s Sri Lanka itinerary. Visit tea country to learn about the grueling tea harvesting process and taste the subtle varieties of Ceylon tea.
In a recent visit, we had the pleasure of exploring several Sri Lanka tea plantations. This post will share some history of Ceylon tea and helpful tips for visiting Sri Lanka tea fields.
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Sri Lanka Map
Where Are Sri Lanka Tea Fields?
Sri Lanka’s Tea Country, also known as Hill Country, comprises several neighboring areas in the heart of the central highlands. Situated at an elevation of approximately 3000- 6000 feet above sea level, the weather is much cooler in Tea Country than the rest of Sri Lanka.
Tea Growing Areas in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka tea country has seven unique tea growing areas. According to the Sri Lanka Tea Board, “each presents a unique combination of climate and terrain that leaves its mark on the tea it produces.”
The seven tea regions in Sri Lanka include:
- Kandy
- Nuwara- Eliya
- Uda Pussellawa
- Uva
- Dimbula
- Sabaragamuwa
- Ruhuna
The seven tea regions are categorized by the location and altitude for where they are grown and harvested. The unique properties of each tea region contribute to the subtle characteristics of the tea grown there.
The tea growing areas in Sri Lanka are categorized as:
- Low-country (up to 2,000 feet above sea level) Tea has a “burgundy hue and a caramel and malty flavour.”
- Mid-country (2,000-4,000 feet above sea level) This tea has “full-bodied flavour and a copper tint.”
- High-country (4,000 feet or more above sea level) This tea is “celebrated world-wide for its intense pungency and refreshing aroma.”
Keep Reading To Learn More About Tea Plants In Sri Lanka…
The First Tea Plant in Sri Lanka & History of Ceylon Tea
In 1824, the first tea plant in Sri Lanka was brought from China. It was planted in Kandy’s Royal Botanical Gardens. Contrary to what you might think, Ceylon Tea in Sri Lanka was a happy accident. In fact, Sri Lanka was a main producer of coffee until the 1870’s under British rule. Sadly, the plant disease “coffee rust”, decimated the Sri Lankan coffee plantations over the next ten years.
Amid the coffee crisis, a young man named James Taylor planted the first tea plants. He started the first tea plantation in Sri Lanka in 1867. By 1873, Taylor had the first operational tea factory in Sri Lanka, called Loolecondera Estate in Kandy. Coffee plantations continued to collapse from disease, and coffee production in Sri Lanka was entirely wiped out by 1899. James Taylor is now credited as the “Father of the Ceylon Tea Industry.”
In time, Sri Lanka became one of the largest tea export countries in the world behind China, India and Kenya. In 2024, Sri Lanka was the fourth largest tea producer globally and the fourth largest tea exporter in the world. Currently, The Akbarally family is Sri Lanka’s largest tea exporter, a position it has enjoyed unchallenged since 1992.
What Is Pure Ceylon Tea?
Pure Ceylon tea is simply tea harvested from the Central Highland districts of Sri Lanka. Ceylon is the former name of Sri Lanka, thus the reason it is called Ceylon tea. It is sought after for its flavor and quality. Also, certain types of Ceylon tea have been linked to impressive health benefits — ranging from increased fat burning to better blood sugar control and decreased cholesterol levels.
While the best tea to buy in Sri Lanka depends on your palate, there is a huge selection to choose from. Some of the top tea brands in Sri Lanka include Lipton, Damro, Zesta, Kotagala, Mlesna and Dilmah. You can’t go wrong tasting any of these famous tea brands in Sri Lanka.
Keep Reading To Learn More About Tea Picking and the Harvesting Process of Ceylon Tea!
Visit Sri Lanka Tea Fields in Hatton
A quaint place to visit Sri Lanka tea fields is in the small town of Hatton. Hatton is in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka. Consider staying in Hatton, instead of Nuwara Eliya town or Ella, if you plan to travel during the Sinhalese New Year. It tends to be less crowded during the Sri Lankan holiday, which is why we chose to stay there.
Dunkeld Tea Tea Plantation & Factory Tour
In Hatton, tour Dunkeld Estate and Tea Factory which is accessible by a short stroll through the lush tea fields. The tour walks you through Dilmah Tea Factory and explains the tea manufacturing process from start to finish. Your guide shares the intricate (and grueling) process of picking tea plants in Sri Lanka, weighing tea leaves, withering (or drying the tea) and more.
It should be noted that tea leaf collection requires two leaves and a bud to be collected from each bush every 5-7 days. Tea picking in Sri Lanka is grueling labor. Tea pluckers are typically female and they work long hours to harvest their quota of approximately 40 pounds of tea leaves per day. They are underpaid, and endure harsh weather and leech-infested fields. Clearly, you will never look at your cup of tea the same after you learn about the difficult labor required for tea production.
At the conclusion of the tour, experience a tea tasting. Sample the varieties of tea and learn about the subtleties among them. Interestingly, despite the distinct tea colors and flavors, all the varieties of tea come from one tea plant in Sri Lanka, Camellia Sinensis. From delicate Ceylon white tea, green tea, to bold Ceylon black tea, you will learn the color and flavor differences among varieties of tea.
Where to Stay in Hatton
Without a doubt, stay at Resplendent Ceylon Tea Trails when you visit Hatton, in Sri Lanka tea country. Ceylon Tea Trails is an intimate accommodation in Hatton, which comprises 5 restored tea planters bungalows. These bungalows offer panoramic views of Castlereagh Lake and are surrounded by lush tea fields.
As part of the Relais & Châteaux brand you can expect impeccable service and dining. This is the perfect place to begin your vacation immersed by Sri Lanka tea gardens and the soothing sounds of nature all around you. Private butlers cater to your every desire, with friendly smiles. Relax with in-room massages, afternoon high-tea, nearby hiking in the countryside, water sports on the lake and more.
Seeking Stamps Tip: Dunkeld and Castlereagh bungalows offer the best views, so ask for either of those when booking.
Nuwara Eliya Tea Estates
Next, visit more Sri Lanka tea estates as you drive to Nuwara Eliya. This quaint town, known as “Little England” is dotted with colonial buildings and surrounded by vibrant tea plantations.
Visit Pedro Tea Estate
Just two miles outside of Nuwara Eliya, sits the idyllic Pedro Tea Estate. This tea plantation area in Sri Lanka is open from 8am-5:00 pm. Tours run from the morning until 12:30 and again after 2:00 pm. Here you can tour the tea factory and learn more about the tea production process. The 30 minute tour costs approximately 500 LKR. At the conclusion of the tour you can sample tea overlooking the gorgeous scenery.
Seeking Stamps Tip: Confirm the factory is doing tours on the day you plan to go, otherwise you will only be able to sample tea.
Following your tea factory tour, check out stunning Lover’s Leap Waterfall. According to local legend, this waterfall is aptly named because a prince and his beloved leapt to their death after their families prevented them from staying together. Locals still believe the area is haunted by their ghosts. Conditions of the waterfall are determined by season, so double check with locals whether it is worth it. Read here for more information about additional Nuwara- Eliya Waterfalls.
Other Things to Do In Nuwara Eliya
Following the tea fields visit, Nuwara Eliya has many attractions to keep you occupied. Consider a trip to Hakgala Botanical Gardens, which is one of the largest botanical gardens in the country. Alternatively, check out the Hindu Seetha Amman Temple. Enjoy a picnic or water sports on man-made Gregory Lake.
Explore the natural beauty of Nuwara Eliya at nearby national parks. Visit Galway’s Land National Park, which is a small wildlife sanctuary. Another top attraction is a 3 hour walk to the “The Great World’s End” in Horton Plains National Park. This is a sheer cliff which drops almost 3,000 feet- yikes! In addition, consider heading south to experience the wildlife at Yala National Park.
Where to Stay in Nuwara Eliya
If you are looking for the best place to stay In Nuwara Eliya, consider the five star Heritance Tea Factory Hotel. Years ago, this was one of the functioning tea factories in Sri Lanka. This Sri Lanka tea plantation hotel offers luxurious accommodations and tea experiences including tea plucking, high-tea and more options to taste tea.
Tea Factories in Ella, Sri Lanka
Next, make your way to gorgeous Ella, Sri Lanka. The distance from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is just over 30 miles away and takes approximately an hour by car. Make sure not to miss attractions in Ella such as the hike to Little Adam’s Peak or watch the blue train pass over the unique Nine Arch Bridge.
If you want to journey to Lipton’s Seat in Haputale, it’s about 1.5 hours to reach the town. This is the famous viewpoint where Sir Thomas Lipton is said to have looked over his tea plants in Sri Lanka. You can also tour Dambatenne Tea Factory and sample Ceylon teas. This can get very crowded, so plan to arrive early.
On Your Way To Kandy, Visit Ambuluwawa Tower in Gampola!
Sri Lanka Tea Fields Near Kandy
Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Estates
From Ella you have the option to make the drive to Kandy or take the famous blue train from Ella to Kandy. Read more about the train below!
If you plan to reach Kandy by car, make sure to visit Labookellie Tea Center and Tea Garden on your route. Labookellie is now run by Damro Tea, one of Sri Lanka’s top tea brands. Learn more about Damro tea factories in Sri Lanka which include Frotoft Tea Factory, Mooloya Estate, and Wedamulla Estate.
This estate offers another Sri Lanka tea factory tour and details about tea harvesting in Sri Lanka. There is a gorgeous balcony with the beautiful tea plantation in the background. It’s the perfect place to sip tea and take some selfies with the Damro sign in the distance. This is an excellent rest point on the way to Kandy from Ella. Labookellie Tea Lounge is open from 8:30-5:00 pm daily.
Blue Field Tea Estate Sri Lanka
Further past Labookellie Tea Center, you will find Blue Field Tea Estate in Ramboda (as you get closer to Kandy City). This tea factory was built in 1921 and offers tea factory tours similar to the ones mentioned above. Blue Field is known as one of the most popular tea factories in Sri Lanka. Its hours of operation are 8:00 am to 6:30 pm.
Seeking Stamps Tip: Visit Ramboda waterfall which is located near the main highway on your way to Kandy.
Read My Other Blog About the Historic City of Kandy!
Blue Train From Ella To Kandy
After you visit Ella, make sure to take the famous blue train from Ella to Kandy. This ride is deemed “the world’s most beautiful train ride” and offers stunning scenery of the Sri Lankan countryside.
Sadly, the trains were packed when we visited because of the Sinhalese New Year holiday and the impact of the economic crisis, so we missed out on the train ride. I certainly hope you have a chance to hop aboard!
Getting From Colombo to the Sri Lanka Tea Fields
Traveling from Colombo to the Sri Lanka tea fields is a bit challenging. Although mass transit is readily available throughout Sri Lanka, it tends to be over crowded and inconvenient. If you are a budget traveler, utilize the Sri Lankan train or bus systems.
If feasible, hire a private car and driver. It is efficient and allows you the most flexibility in your itinerary. We paid $1250 (plus gratuity) for four passengers during our week in Sri Lanka which included a Mercedes Benz Vito van, fuel, and unlimited stops.The trip from Colombo to Hatton is over 4-5 hours, winding back and forth around small roads.
Seeking Stamps Tip: Take medications prior to the drive to tea country, if you are prone to motion sickness. My husband was miserable from motion sickness during the drive!
Another option is to fly to the Hill Country. If lake conditions are suitable for water landings, fly into tea country on a Cinnamon Air seaplane. This is the fastest way, yet most expensive way to travel to tea country.
When to Visit Sri Lanka Tea Fields
Fortunately, you can visit Sri Lanka year round. In most destinations, the tropical weather tends to be hot and humid. Yet places in the hill country such as Hatton and Ella, tend to have cooler weather. Peak travel season in Sri Lanka is the middle of December until April.
Sri Lanka has two distinct monsoons, so plan your Sri Lanka itinerary before choosing the month you want to visit. The western side of the island (including beaches and hill country) has the most rain during the stronger Yala Monsoon from April to September. April, May and June have the most rainfall at this time. The milder Maha Monsoon hits the eastern side of Sri Lanka from November to March. The most rainfall here is from November to December.
January and February are the best months to visit Sri Lanka tea plantations, avoiding the Yala Monsoon.
How Long to Spend in Sri Lanka Tea Country
Obviously, the rolling hills of tea country are stunning so plan enough time to soak up the scenery. Sri Lanka is exceptionally diverse with beautiful beaches, temples, wildlife, and historic sights to see throughout the country. In order to see the tea factories in Sri Lanka, I recommend a minimum of two nights. Ideally, spend four or more nights if you have time in your itinerary. If you plan to spend time in Hatton, Nuwara Eliya and Ella, allow for a week or more.
Pay Attention to Sri Lanka Holidays When You Visit Tea Country
When visiting Sri Lanka tea fields it is important to note the April holiday when many families make the journey to the hill country for their Sinhalese New Year celebration. Public transportation can be crowded and extremely difficult to access during this time. Here is a list of holidays to pay attention to.
Every full moon day in Sri Lanka is a Poya day. Poya days are public holidays where many shops and restaurants may be closed. Alcohol sales are limited in public, but hotels often still serve alcohol to tourists. Many tea plantation tours are not operational on Poya days.
Seeking Stamps Tip : Trust me . . . check the holiday calendar in Sri Lanka before you book your vacation!
Learn About the Unesco World Heritage Site, Lion’s Rock Sigiriya, in This Blog Post. . .
Sri Lanka Tea FAQ’s:
1. Where Is Sri Lanka Hill Country?
Sri Lanka hill country is in the central highlands of Sri Lanka at an elevation of approximately 3000- 6000 feet above sea level.
2. Why Is Sri Lanka Famous for Its Tea?
Sri Lanka is famous for its tea because the unique climate lends itself to creating tea that is distinctive in flavor and quality.
3. Where Is the Best Tea Grown in Sri Lanka?
Nuwara Eliya tea gardens are considered to be the location of the best tea grown in Sri Lanka.
4. Where Are the Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka Located?
The seven tea growing areas in Sri Lanka are Kandy, Nuwara- Eliya, Uda Pussellawa, Uva, Dimbula, Sabaragamuwa, and Ruhuna.
5. Which Country Is Ranked # 1 in Tea Exports?
China is the top rankled tea exporter. India, Kenya and Sri Lanka are the other top tea exporting countries.
6. What Is Sri Lankan Tea Called?
Sri Lankan Tea is called Ceylon Tea.
7. How Much of the World’s Tea Comes From Sri Lanka?
According to Wikipedia, “Tea production is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, and accounts for 2% of GDP, contributing over US$1.3 billion in 2021 to the economy.”
8. Which Country Has the Highest Tea Quality?
China is considered to have the best tea quality. Countries such as Japan, Sri Lanka, India and the U.K. are also said to have the best tea in the world.
9. Who Buys Sri Lankan Tea?
By late 2022, the largest consumers of Ceylon tea are Iraq, Russia, U.A.E, Turkey and Iran. According to the historyofceylontea.com, “52% of tea exports were absorbed by destinations in North Africa and The Middle East, Russia 17%, UK/Europe 10%, Asia 9%, North American and South America 6%, Japan/ Australasia 4% and Africa / Others 2%.”
10. Which Countries Drink the Most Tea?
The country of China is the largest consumer of tea. Turkey, Ireland and the U.K. are the three countries that drink the most tea per person.
Read Here For Things to do Near Sigiriya and Matale.
Sri Lanka Tea Fields: Final Thoughts
As you can see, tea and tea culture are paramount in Sri Lanka. I hope you now understand why Sri Lanka is synonymous with tea. Clearly, Sri Lanka is worth visiting for many reasons. One of those reasons is to spend time in the Sri Lanka tea fields when you visit this beautiful and diverse country.
If You’re a Tea Lover- Keep Reading About Traditional Tea Ceremonies in Tokyo, Japan!
This would be such a beautiful experience. Not only the landscape and seeing all that lush green but to get insight into the people and culture. I would love to visit a tea estate that you’ve recommended, take a tour and top it off with an afternoon tea.
We loved including a visit to tea country in our Sri Lanka itinerary. It truly is beautiful and so unique!
I love how you included a history of Sri Lanka- that was very interesting!
Thank you- I like to have some background info for context. 🙂
Wow this looks like a cool experience. I actually don’t like to drink tea, but would visit for the scenery and history. Super cool
The scenery is worth a visit even if you don’t drink tea.
The blue train looks amazing! I need to visit the tea fields too!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
I have visited tea plantations in other countries, so this was wonderful to read about tea fields of Sri Lanka. The video of the bungalows made me really want to stay there with the wildlife sounds in the background.
Thank you very much. Consider adding Sri Lanka to your travel list for next time. It is beautiful.