BEHIND THE CRAFT
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Oliphant and sunset over Galle

Our Ceylon Signature blend is named after Sir Anthony Oliphant, Chief Justice of Ceylon in 1838, who allowed his estate to be planted with tea seedlings, under the supervision of The East India Company.

It was then James Taylor ‘The Father of Ceylon Tea’ who commercialised tea production 30 years later.

Sri Lankan tea was born - bright and vibrant - much like Galle, the subject of the artwork on our Signature Ceylon Tea. On the southwest tip of [now] Sri Lanka, Galle was both an important port (trading cinnamon back to 1400s) and fort, of value to the Portuguese, the Dutch, then the British.

This evocative scene of a view to Galle was painted by Belfast born Andrew Nicholl c. 1850, a teacher of painting at Colombo Academy. Well regarded, Queen Victoria was a collector of Nicholl’s work.

FGTE20111

Sir Anthony Oliphant's Ceylon Black Tea x 20 Tea Bag Sachets

Net Weight: 50g

A mellow, medium-bodied tea that owes its name to Sir Anthony Justice Oliphant, owner of the first tea estate in Ceylon. Light and well balanced, enjoy it as a refreshing mid-afternoon drink.

The East India Company - Lifestyle

Tea

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£6.00
Our Ceylon Signature blend is named in celebration of Sir Anthony Oliphant, Chief Justice of Ceylon in 1838, who with the help of the East India Company and the eminent botanists of the day, planted tea seedlings in his estate in Nuwara Eliya, so starting the journey of Ceylon now Sri Lanka to becoming the 4th biggest tea producer in the world today.

We've chosen a classic high grown black tea blend for our Signature range, a splendid tea for the afternoon when something lighter but aromatic is required.
Sri Lanka is a tea growing island nation with six main growing areas, that produce very distinctive teas in each.

This blend is a high high tea from Nuwaar Eliya, the home to Oliphant's Estate and probably the finest tea region in the country. At 1600 metres above sea level it produces teas with a lighter, aromatic quality, including some very fine white teas.

Another region is Kandy, further north, where the 'Father of Ceylon Tea' James Taylor first planted, at a slightly lower elevation.

The Dimbula and Uva regions are both high grown, to the west of Nuwara Eliya. Galle, a low-growing region is in the south and finally Ratnapura a lower land region, near to the west coast capital Columbo.
A beautiful bright, golden colour in cup.

Fragrant, perfumed aroma.

A light and well-balanced, smooth tea. It's refreshing."
Just the tea you need for Afternoon Tea.
Quantity

1 SACHET PER CUP

Temperature

200ML OF WATER AT 100ºC

Brewing Time

3-4 MINS BREWING TIME

Ingredients

Single Estate Black Tea

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place avoiding direct sunlight and strong odours.

Stories

The Story of Ceylon Tea

James Taylor was a 17-year Scott when he left London in 1851, landing in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and sent to work on a coffee estate near Kandy. Coffee was the predominant crop at the time but was prone to being destroyed by fungus – and it would eventually be entirely replaced by tea.

Tea had first been planted in 1840 on the estate of Sir Anthony Oliphant, Chief Justice of Ceylon in the central high land of Nuwara Eliya, under the supervision of The East India Company, but it was Taylor who commercialised the industry. After gaining some years of planting experience, Taylor cleared 19 acres of forest in the Loolcondera Estate in the Kandy district and in 1867 planted tea in hedge-like rows using seedlings from the Assam tea plant.
Not only was he a pioneering planter, but he also learned and developed new production methods, from trial and error on his veranda to his first tea factory and his ‘ground-breaking’ tea cutting machine that allowed production to grow from a few pounds to 23,000 tonnes just 20 years later.

Known for high quality, Ceylon teas commanded a high price in the London tea auctions of the 19th century.

Taylor died aged only 57 but is still today regarded as the pioneer of the now global Sri Lankan tea industry, the 4th largest producer in the world.

Our spirit delivers no ordinary products

  • FAQ

    Does this tea contain caffeine and is there more or less than in coffee?
    Yes, all tea like coffee, contains caffeine. The amount in both teas and coffees does vary, depending on the type, but typically Sri Lankan black tea is lighter than other teas in caffeine content, usually between 50 and 90mg for a normally brewed 230ml serving. This compares to about 95mg for a normal cup of coffee. The best advice is to treat tea and coffee similarly if you need to manage your caffeine intake.

    I’ve heard that tea contains theanine. What is it and what does it do?
    Tea does indeed contain theanine, which is an amino acid [the building blocks of proteins]. Tea is one of only a few sources of theanine. It represents about 1% of dry weight and is at its highest concentrate in shade-grown teas like matcha and gyokuro. Whilst not yet proven in scientific studies that would permit specific health claims to be made, it is believed by many to be able to reduce mental and physical stress, promote relaxation and a sense of well-being. But not only that, it is more recently being thought to aid cognitive function. It’s one explanation for tea’s famous ability to create calm in a crisis [the Great British solution to all problems – ‘putting the kettle on’] and to stimulate when a little boost is required.

  • Delivery & Returns

    UK Standard Delivery: £3.95
    UK Next Day Delivery (mainland UK only): £9.95 (Order before 12pm)
    International Delivery is available, please see our delivery page for details. For more information and Terms & Conditions, please see our Delivery page.

  • Reviews

Sir Anthony Oliphant's Ceylon Black Tea x 20 Tea Bag Sachets

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