Snapshot
Explore the history of Ceylon tea without having to head into Sri Lanka’s hills by going on a guided tour of a tea factory in Colombo.
Duration: 3 hours
Best Time: Year-round
Additional Information
Ceylon tea has long been renowned as some of the finest tea in the world, ever-since it was initially planted in the island’s hills by Scotsman James Taylor in the mid-19th century. If you do not have time to head to the hill country during your holiday, but are interested in learning about Sri Lanka’s tea industry, this Colombo-based tea factory is a great choice if you have a few hours to kill in the commercial capital.
This tea factory is old, but has been updated with more modern equipment in recent years. Take a guided tour and discover how the leaves are processed and packaged, before doing a tea tasting session to explore the art of grading and find your favourite ‘flavour’. Your guide will end the tour with a brief overview of how new technology has changed tea production in recent years, with details of how the world-wide demand for tea has affected not only the quantity but also the type of tea grown in Sri Lanka. The tour is led by a professional tea-taster who is highly knowledgeable about Sri Lankan tea and regularly visits the Colombo Tea Auction. It lasts approximately 1.5 hours and can be done morning or evening.
We also offer a tea factory tour near Galle and in the hills. For those of you planning to visit Sri Lanka’s lush central region to explore the history of Ceylon tea, see our list of things to do in the hill country.
Related Activities
Colombo Cooking Class
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Join your experienced host at her home in the outskirts of Colombo for a fascinating morning learning to prepare a range of Sri Lankan rice dishes, curries, salads and sambols.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Colombo Restaurant Guide
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Explore Colombo’s wide range of restaurants, cafés and street food options, which offer a wide range of traditional local dishes as well as cuisine from around the world.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Colombo's Street Food Walk
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Savour the local delicacies of Colombo as you weave your way through busy streets brimming with people, food, culture and stories. Be sure you’ve got your adventure cap on for this one.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Galle Restaurant Guide
Galle, Sri Lanka
Galle offers a range of charming cafes, bars and restaurants within the ancient Dutch Fort: choice ranges from simple snacks and Sri Lankan rice and curries to five-star fusion cuisine.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Guided Tour of a Spice Farm
Matale, Sri Lanka
Explore a working fruit and spice farm in Matale with a local planter and learn about the various trees and crops grown here and their use in traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. End with an authentic lunch.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Jaffna Crab Curry Cooking Class
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Learn how to clean fresh sea crabs and how to prepare traditional Jaffna crab curry, a dish renowned throughout the island, before sitting down to one of the best meals you will have in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Kandy Restaurant Guide
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Kandyan cuisine has a distinct flavour. Ambul Thiyal, for example, is a popular sour fish curry. Kandyan sweet meats including Kavum, Kokis, and Pani Walalu are delicious treats not to be missed.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Sri Lankan Cooking Class with a Family
Galle, Sri Lanka
Sensationally flavoursome rice and curry is a staple in Sri Lanka. A plate of rice and curry is comprised of various curries, cooked vegetables, sambols and steamed rice.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class
Galle, Sri Lanka
After visiting the vibrant Galle Market, journey along the river towards a secluded rural village and learn how to make a variety of traditional Sri Lankan dishes in the cool of a wattle-and-daub hut.
Duration: 4 hours
Best time: Year-round
