The importance of tea

The production of tea is very important to the Sri Lankan economy and the world market. The country is the world's fourth largest producer of tea and generates about £440million a year.

four Interesting facts we bet you didn’t know....

• In 1995, Sri Lanka was the world's leading exporter of tea, (rather than producer) with 23% of the total world export, but it has since been passed by Kenya.
• The tea industry employs, directly or indirectly more than a million people in Sri Lanka.
• The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall in the country's central highlands provide a climate that helps the production of high quality tea. The industry was introduced to the country in 1867 by James Taylor, a British planter who arrived in 1852.
• In addition to its tea exports, Sri Lanka’s main economic sectors are tourism, clothing, rice and other agricultural products.