For importers and private-label brands — how elevation and region shape Ceylon tea, what the leaf grades mean, how the Colombo auction works and what to check before you buy.
Ceylon tea has been one of the world's great beverages for more than 150 years. Sri Lanka is among the world's largest tea exporters, and its tea is sold into markets from the Middle East and Russia to Europe and Asia. For an importer or a private-label brand, understanding how Ceylon tea is classified is the first step to buying well.
Elevation shapes the cup
Ceylon tea is traditionally grouped by the elevation at which it is grown:
- High-grown (roughly above 1,200 metres) — bright, fragrant and delicate, with a golden liquor. Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva are classic high-grown teas.
- Mid-grown (roughly 600–1,200 metres) — rounder and fuller-bodied, such as teas from Kandy.
- Low-grown (below about 600 metres) — dark, strong and full-flavoured, with a large, often black leaf. They are especially popular in the Middle East and CIS markets. The Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa districts are known for these teas.
The seven regions
Ceylon tea is marketed under seven main growing regions: Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Uva, Uda Pussellawa, Kandy, Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa. Each has its own character, shaped by altitude, rainfall and the monsoons. Nuwara Eliya, the highest, produces some of the most delicate and prized teas on the island.
What the grades mean
Most Ceylon tea is orthodox — rolled rather than cut, torn and curled (CTC). Grades describe the size and appearance of the leaf, not its quality. Common grades include:
- OP (Orange Pekoe) — long, wiry leaf
- Pekoe — shorter, curled leaf
- BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe) — smaller broken leaf, a standard for blends
- FBOP (Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe) — broken leaf with some tip, popular in the Middle East
- BOPF (Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings) and Dust — small particles used in tea bags
For a private-label buyer, the grade drives price, brew strength and the kind of packaging it suits: loose leaf, pyramid bags or standard tea bags.
How tea is sold: the Colombo auction
Most Ceylon tea is sold through the Colombo Tea Auction, one of the world's oldest tea auctions, held weekly. Brokers taste and value each lot, and licensed buyers bid for them. Exporters then blend, pack and ship. For buyers who want consistency, working with an exporter who blends to a fixed specification is usually more practical than buying at auction directly.
The Lion Logo
The Sri Lanka Tea Board owns the Lion Logo. Brands may carry it only if the pack contains 100% pure Ceylon tea packed in Sri Lanka and meets the Board's quality standards. For consumers the logo is a mark of authenticity, and for brands it is a strong selling point.
Before you buy: a checklist
- Define the profile — region or elevation, grade and cup character — and agree a reference sample.
- Ask for pre-shipment samples, and taste them against the reference.
- Check laboratory reports for pesticide residues and contaminants against your market's limits, which are strict in the EU.
- Confirm certifications you need, such as ISO 22000 or HACCP, organic, or Rainforest Alliance.
- Agree packaging and labelling, including Lion Logo use if you are packing in Sri Lanka.
- Clarify Incoterms, lead times and payment terms.
How Arwa Lanka helps
We source single-origin and blended Ceylon teas direct from estates and exporters, arrange samples and testing, and handle export documentation. Try our Nuwara Eliya black tea, or contact us with your grade, volume and destination for trade supply.
This article is general information. Specifications and market requirements vary; confirm details with your supplier and your local regulator.
Sources: Sri Lanka Tea Board · Sri Lanka Export Development Board — Pure Ceylon Tea · Tea production in Sri Lanka — overview