Travel

Ceylon Tea Museum - Hantane

The proud monument to the success story of Ceylon Tea:

Ganga ILLEPERUMA

The Museum , located in Hantane , Kandy has a fascinating collection of age-old machinery , and the like. It traces the 130-years history from the first tea plant brought to Sri Lanka by the Englishman, James Tylor.

The Tea Museum,with an attractive wooden interior has a library too. Today visitors can see the machinery as good as new and they could also purchase some of the finest Ceylon teas that are in the market .The oldest known existing packet of Ceylon tea, which is 56 years and still in its original packing is also on display .

The Ceylon Tea Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 a.m to 3.00 p.m. It is closed on Monday and Poya which falls on a weekday.

The recently opened Tea Museum occupies the 1925-vintage, four-story Hanthana Tea Factory, 5km south of Kandy on the road to Hanthana. It is served by a motor able road that circles the factory providing easy access. Abandoned for over a decade, it was refurbished as a museum by the Sri Lanka Tea Board in cooperation with the Planters' Association of Ceylon.

In addition to displaying a good collection of 19th-century rollers, dryers and other typical tea-factory equipment in their original settings, the museum contains exhibits on the lives and work of Ceylon tea pioneers James Taylor and Thomas Lipton.

Kandy is a mandatory stop on virtually every tourist itinerary, and the location of Ceylon Tea Museum at Hantane makes sound economic sense. It will also enhance the attraction of hill country to visitors. Additionally its proximity to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, where tea was grown commercially, make Hantane the perfect location. The factory building consists of four floors. The ground accommodate heavy machinery; the first floor is for Archives, library and the auditorium. Second floor occupies some examples in the withering process. The fourth floor is converted to serve a cup of tea.

"The Museum is established preserving the atmosphere of a tea factory, at a cost of Rs. 32 million. The Museum project was carried out by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Tea Research Institute and the Planters' Association of Ceylon" said Manager of Ceylon Tea Museum Hantane, Dammasiri Madugalle.

Built in 1925, the spacious four storied Hantane Tea Factory, had been abandoned for more than a decade when it was earmarked for the Museum Project undertaken by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Planters' Association of Ceylon. Today it stands as a proud monument to the success story that is Ceylon Tea.

Although exhibits are not abundant they do provide a valuable insight into how tea was manufactured in the early days. Old machinery, some dating back more than a century, has been lovingly restored to working order. The first exhibit that greets visitors in the Engine Room on the ground floor of the museum is the Ruston and Horns by developed diesel and other liquid fuel engines, power for the estates were obtained by water driven turbines.

Museum's "Rolling Room" offers a glimpse into the development of manufacturing techniques with its fascinating collection of rollers. Here the showpiece is the manually operated ' Little Giant Tea Roller'.

The Tree Of Life Hotel

Colonial times back to modern life:

The Tree Of Life Hotel in Kandy is one of the hotels in Sri Lanka that has brought colonial times back to modern life. It is also one of the most popular hotels in the region. Surrounded by 700 acres of tea land, the Tree of Life has a rich history.

The old wing was an estate bungalow built during the colonial era over 100 years ago in Sri Lanka. The Tree of Life has a unique architectural design. A fusion of colonial style and an openness of nature are put together in surroundings that are untouched by artificial landscaping.

A place where nature takes pride when surrounded by green carpets of vegetation, with the Knuckles mountain range of place. Set in 64 acres of idyllic uplands, the authentic draw of nature's tranquility is hard to resist.

Luxurious Executive Villa is an addition to the Hotel Tree of Life facilities with a large bed room and a sitting room with a spacious bathroom with all amenities. Butler service to have your own meal prepared for your choice in your private garden and parking facilities near your room are some of the attractive features for the guest.

If you want to re-live the sound of music among green rolling hills, tea plantations and nature that will simply take your breath away, visit Kandy.

Among the many hotels in Kandy, the Tree Of Life Hotel will make your visit successful.

The location of Tree Of Life makes your experience at the hotel even more special. Located on lush greenery and tea plantations, the Tree Of Life is only 15 minutes away from the city of Kandy.

The hotel amenities and services at Tree Of Life include delightful rooms and suites for comfortable accommodation for guests. There are 40 accommodation units to fulfill your dreams of life amidst natural surroundings.

The dining facilities at the hotel include restaurants that serve delectable Sri Lanka cuisine and international fares to suit every kind of taste bud.

The hotel amenities and services at Tree Of Life also include highly professional business and conference facilities. Equipped with all facilities for successful seminars and conferences, the Tree Of Life Hotel is ideal for business tourists.

The location of Tree Of Life makes it a perfect escapade from the stress of life and work. Free your mind and discover the essence of a real vacation with a mountain top pool and breathtaking sceneries all around you.

More than a hundred years old, the Tree Of Life Hotel has a beautiful architectural design and reminds you of the glorious British days. Marvel at the beautiful blend of nature and colonial architecture, without any harm to the virginal beauty of the earth.

This nature resort is highly appreciated from the European community for peace, harmony, quietness and unspoilt lush green land.

"We won the Green Glob certificates and a Presidential Environmental award also. This hotel has very good collaboration with Japan and we concentrate more on ayurveda promotion to Japan. We opened two ayurveda centres in Japan called "Ayusha". We also opened the restaurant in Japan called "Yalathanna" said Assistant General Manager, Timothy Paldano. GI

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History of Sri Lankan Tea

1824

A tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. (non commercial)

1839

Establishment of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

1854

Establishment of the Planters' Association of Ceylon

1867

James Taylor planted the first 19 acres of tea in Loolecondra Estate near Kandy, Ceylon and this marked the birth tea industry in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

1872

First sale of Loolecondra teas in Kandy

1873

Export of Sri Lanka's first tea consignment of 23 lbs from Loolecondra Estate to London

1876

Founding of the first Broking firm John Brothers & Co.

1877

Manufacture of first "SIROCCO" tea drier by Samuel C. Davidson

1880

Manufacture of first tea rolling machine by John Walker & Co.

1883

The first public Colombo Auction was held at the premises of Somerville & Co.on 30th July, 1883, under the auspices of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

1884

Construction of a Central Tea Factory on Fairy land Estate (Pedro) in Nuwara-Eliya

1891

Ceylon Tea established a record price of £36.15 per lb at the London Tea Auctions

1892

James Taylor, aged 57 years, died in Ceylon on 2nd May, 1892

1894

Formation of the Colombo Tea Traders' Association

1896

Colombo Brokers' Association was formed

1915

Mr. Thomas Amarasuriya, first Ceylonese to be appointed as Chairman of the Planters' Association

1925

Establishment of Tea Research Institute

1927

Sri Lanka's tea production exceeded 100,000 metric tons.

Sri Lanka's tea exports exceeded 100,000 metric tons.

1932

Formation of The Ceylon Tea Propaganda Board.

Export of poor quality tea was prohibited.

1934

World's largest tea bush was found in Ceylon at Battawatta Group, Madulsima.

It had a diameter of 24 feet and a circumference of 67 feet.

Four pounds of green leaf were plucked from it on one day

1935

Set up the International Tea Market Expansion Board (ITMEB) in which Ceylon was a founder member

1938

The Tea Research Institute commenced work on vegitative propagation at St. Coombs Estate, Talawakele

1940

Biological control of the leaf eating Tea Tortrix Caterpillar by the Tea Research Institute

1941

First Ceylonese Tea Broking house, M/s Pieris & Abeywardena was established

1944

Ceylon Estate Employers' Federation was established

1951

Export Duty on tea was introduced from 1st October, 1951

1955

First clonal tea fields came into bearing.

1958

Formation of the State Plantations Corporation

1959

Ad Valorem Tax was introduced on 1st June 1959 for teas sold at the Colombo Auctions

1961

Sri Lanka's registered tea extent exceeded 200,000 hectares.

Sri Lanka's tea production exceeded 200,000 metric tons.

1962

Sri Lanka's tea exports exceeded 200,000 metric tons

1963

Production and exports of Instant Teas commenced

1965

Sri Lanka became the World's largest tea exporter for the first time

1966

First International Tea Convention was held to celebrate 100 years of Tea Industry

1972

State take over of privately owned estates

1975

Nationalisation of Rupee and sterling companies

1976

Sri Lanka Tea Board was established.

Formation of Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB).

Establishment of the Tea Small Holding Development Authority (TSHDA)

Exports of tea bags has commenced.

1980

Sri Lanka's partcipation at Moscow Olympics as official supplier of tea

1981

Import of teas for blending and re-exports was introduced

1982

Production and Exports of Green tea commenced.

Sri Lanka's participation at 12th Commonwealth games at Brisbane as official supplier of tea

1983

Centennial year of the Colombo Tea Auctions.

Production of CTC teas commenced in Sri Lanka.

1987

Sri Lanka's participation in 'Expo 88' as official supplierof tea in Australia

1992

Sri Lanka completes 125 years in her Tea Industry.

An international convention was held in Colombo to mark the occation.

Formation of the Tea Research Board.

Abolition of the Export Duty on 21st December, 1992.

Abolition of the Ad Valorem Tax on 21st December, 1992.

1993

Privatisation of the management of Government owned tea estates

1996

Sri Lanka's tea production exceeded 250,000 metric tons

1997

Tea Exports reached 250,000 metric tons

2000

Tea production exceeded 300,000 metric tons

2001

Commencement of on-line sales of tea by Forbes & Walker Ltd., at the Colombo Tea Auctions.

Establishment of a Tea Museum at Kandy.

2002

Tea Association of Sri Lanka was formed.

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