Tea is more than just a comforting beverage; it is a cultural symbol, a strategic economic product, and, increasingly, a tool of soft power diplomacy. My recent participation in an international conference on “Sustainable Plantation Management” in Sri Lanka, hosted by the Ministry of Plantation and Social Infrastructure, offered a deep dive into how a country can transform tea into an integrated national brand. As I explored the mid-hill plantations and processing hubs of Kandy and its adjoining regions, one lesson stood out clearly: Ceylon Tea is not just a product ~ it is a meticulously cultivated economic identity.

Sri Lanka began its tea journey in 1867, with Scottish entrepreneur James Taylor planting the first tea bushes at Loolecondera Estate. Following the decline of coffee plantations during the colonial era, tea emerged as a resilient alternative. What began as a colonial experiment has now evolved into a global brand ~ “Ceylon Tea” ~ a name derived from the Sinhalese “Ceylon,” Sri Lanka’s former name. Today, Ceylon Tea is exported to over 95 countries, including the Middle East, Russia, Germany, Japan, and France. With an annual production of around 280 to 300 million kilograms, Sri Lanka ranks third globally in tea exports. Significantly, much of this tea is sold not as bulk, but as branded, value-added packets ~ an area where India, and particularly Darjeeling, lags behind. Sri Lanka’s success in tea marketing lies in its synergy of public policy and private enterprise.

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Every exported tea packet carries the “Lion Logo,” certified by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, which not only sets quality standards but also facilitates farmer training, disaster mitigation, and subsidizes participation in global expos. This statebacked certification mechanism transforms a simple commodity into a symbol of quality and trust in the international market. In sharp contrast, Darjeeling Tea ~ once the uncontested jewel in India’s tea crown ~ has seen its global dominance erode steadily. Despite receiving Geographical Indication (GI) status from the European Union in 2004,........

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