The Ceylon Tea Museum is located on the premises of the former Hanthane Tea Factory, approximately 5 km from the Kandy city centre. The once abandoned factory has been newly refurbished and is now a repository of all things tea related. Getting there is easy from most centrally located Kandy hotels such as the Earl’s Regency.
The Mechanics of Tea Making
The guided tour of the Ceylon Tea Museum starts with the machinery used in tea processing at the turn of the 19th Century which have all been restored to working order. Visitors will have the opportunity to see many machines unique to the tea industry, including the Little Giant Tea Roller. This manually operated machine is responsible for twisting the dried leaves prior to cutting.
Learning About the Pioneers of Tea
The museum pays special homage to Thomas Lipton and James Taylor, pioneers in the trade who were responsible for the rise of Ceylon’s tea industry. Taylor is often described as the father of Ceylon tea and Thomas Lipton is the man who was responsible for its commercial success.
It’s Tea Time
After the guided tour has ended, visitors can enjoy a free cup of steaming Sri Lankan tea at the museum’s tea room. The team room is situated on the fourth floor and allows visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside. There is also a shop on the premises allowing you to take ho me some Sri Lankan tea.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+