Why Ceylon tea is inseparable from Sri Lanka and its people

Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest tea-producing countries and its economy is highly dependent on the tea industry. In 2024, the tea sector contributed 11 per cent to the island’s total exports. In this episode of Eat Drink Asia, Post reporter Lisa Cam travels to Sri Lanka and visits Bogowantalawa, a valley that is one of the most famous tea-growing regions in the country. She learns about the work of tea pluckers and tasters as well as the meticulous tea manufacturing processes. She also visits a school that provides further education for young people who live on tea estates and explores how the livelihoods of most Sri Lankans are closely linked to the tea industry.