Nuwara Eliya Tea gives a Palest cup to all the regions
The Nuwara Eliya tea region of Sri Lanka sits at a height of over 6000 feet above sea level. This area is very famous for upcountry tea in Sri Lanka. Also, the climate is similar to that of England; therefore, Nuwara Eliya is famous as the “Little England of Sri Lanka. The climate, surroundings, and architecture of this area are different than those of other villages.
The average annual temperature varies between 11 and 20 °C, and the lowest temperature is 0.4 °C and the highest temperature is 27.7 °C, according to weather history. Monthly rainfall varies between 70-225 mm and has an average annual rainfall figure or precipitation of 1900 mm. The maximum rainfall is generally in October, and the minimum rainfall is in March. During the year it has a relative humidity between 65%-87%.
Nuwara Eliya tea enjoys two “quality seasons”, the eastern as well as the Western. The tea produced here has a rarefied and refined quality that easily sets it apart from lower-grown varieties.
High altitude and year-round low temperatures produce a very slow-growing bush with unusually small leaves that take on an orange hue – just a hint against the blackness – after withering.
The infused leaf acquires a greenish-yellow tone, and the infusion in the cup is the palest among all the regional varieties of Ceylon Tea, with a subtle golden hue and a delicate yet fragrant bouquet.
As with all Ceylon teas, Nuwara Eliya is available in several different grades. The most sought-after are whole-leaf orange pekoe (OP); slightly less costly, though still expensive, is broken orange pekoe (BOP).
Generally speaking, the smaller the particle size, the stronger and less subtle the tea.