I spent a month in Sri Lanka in December 2016 and much of the tourist trail (such as it is) loops through the highland tea growing areas. Mostly Sri Lanka grows black tea for the mass and premium tea bag market so I didn't go out of my way to do any tastings or visit estates, although I did find a spectacularly good cuppa in the southern fort city of Galle.
However I found a speciality tea seller on a lazy walk one evening in the party town and surfers paradise of Hikkaduwa on the south coast. It was enough to turn my head and I came away with a few goodies.
However I found a speciality tea seller on a lazy walk one evening in the party town and surfers paradise of Hikkaduwa on the south coast. It was enough to turn my head and I came away with a few goodies.
FBOP SPEXN01 [Sri Lanka, black, grassy] **** $$ by Ceylon Gold Tea, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
Other names: ???
There are dozens of black tea varietals made for tea bags, or essentially black tea made to be drank with milk (oh, the horror!). I don't tend to pay too much attention and the names usually wont mean anything to those who are not tea purchasers. Very often the names resemble this one - FBOP SPEXN01 - and are not exactly poetic. "First Bush Orange Pekoe" is the front part of the name but after that I give up!
As it was already quite late and the shop was closing, I didnt do any tastings so I picked this one strictly on smell from the handful of teas recommended by the owner once I told him what I liked. It has a delicate nose, where the orange notes are fully evident - this is not often the case with Orange Pekoes I find.
The leaves are very small and in the cup this is an absolute smasher of a tea, full of tannins and with a light subtle flavour. And no, I didn't try it with milk. Recommended for those who like lighter, high altitude black teas.
Similar Teas: Nilgiri, Darjeeling
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| I recommend a visit to this shop in south Sri Lanka |
