Ceylon Tea grades, regions and export quality: what buyers should separate

01

Do not use grade as a shortcut for every quality question

Tea grade and leaf appearance describe an important part of the commercial product, but they do not replace tea type, manufacture, sensory profile, origin claim, pack format or buyer-specific analytical requirements.

For sourcing, first identify whether the requirement is black, green, white or another tea route and the manufacturing style or grade expected. Then define the sensory, physical, packing and documentation requirements around it.

02

Sri Lanka has seven recognised tea-growing districts

Sri Lanka Tea Board identifies seven tea-growing districts: Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Uda Pussellawa, Uva, Dimbula, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna. The Board explains that terrain, elevation and monsoon exposure contribute to regional distinctions.

A regional name should therefore be treated as an origin claim, not simply a flavour adjective. If a buyer specifically requests a district, the commercial route should support that origin statement.

03

Export quality has a Tea Board control layer

Sri Lanka Tea Board's Tea Export Division states that registered exporters submit export documentation through the relevant system and that export consignments are inspected. Its expert Tea Tasters examine samples to determine whether made tea meets permitted categories, conforms to ISO 3720 and is free from contamination before suitable tea is permitted for export.

This does not mean that one Tea Board statement replaces the buyer specification. The buyer can still require a particular grade, region, sensory target, residue programme, pack and destination labelling.

04

Build the tea enquiry in layers

A clear tea RFQ lets commercial grade, origin, quality and destination evidence remain separate and auditable.

• Tea type, manufacture and grade.
• Growing district/origin claim if required.
• Appearance and sensory targets.
• Residue, contaminant or other buyer tests where applicable.
• Bulk/retail pack and destination labelling needs.
• Lion Logo or other controlled mark only where the actual route is eligible and approved.