TRACING TEA

TRACING TEA

Ø  Premium Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea, packaged in Sri Lanka, who is currently producing 22% of the world’s tea.   The loose leaves are packed in tins, batched, and dated on the bottom directly for export, specifically for the private Canadian company, Lee Valley Tools Ltd.

Ø  From the Dimbula region of Sri Lanka

Ø  To Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Colombo, (29th busiest port in the world, handling 4 million shipping containers in 2010)

Ø  By Container Ship through the Indian Ocean to the Andaman Sea

Ø  Through the Andaman Sea and the Strait of Malacca past Singapore (2nd busiest port, handling 28.4 million containers) to the South China Sea

Ø  Through the South China Sea, past Hong Kong, (3rd busiest port, 23.7 million containers) to the Pacific Ocean

Ø  Through the Pacific Ocean, (past 7 Chinese ports, ranked from the 1st to the 11th busiest in the world, handling a combined total of 123 million containers) to the Port of Vancouver, BC, (50th busiest port, handing 2.5 million containers)

Ø  By Rail to Lee Valley Tools store in Ottawa, ON, where I order the tea via their web site

Ø  To United Parcel Service, Ottawa then Concord stations

Ø  Then to UPS Richmond, BC, then Kelowna stations

Ø  Finally to my door, on Baron Road, Kelowna.

Container shipping ports between Sri Lanka and Vancouver, Canada

1.Colombo      29th busiest port         4 million shipping

Sri Lanka         in the world                 containers in 2010

2.Singapore     2nd                            28.4

3.Hong Kong 3rd                              23.7

4.Shenzhen     4th                               22.5

5.Guangzhou 7th                               12.5

6.Ningbo         6th                               13

7.Shanghai     1st                               29

8.Qingdao       8th                               12

9.Tanggu        11th                             10*

10.Vancouver  50th                             2.5

*Chinese ports in bold, total shipping containers in 2010 = 123 Million.

Step 1 - Backtrace Premium Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea

1.First stop is the tea plantation.

Dimbula:-
This is perhaps the most famous name in Ceylon Tea, as it was one of the first areas to be planted after tea took over from coffee in Ceylon in 1870's. The area covers the extensive western slopes of the tea planting districts. The standard definition of this district embraces plantations from around 3,500 to 5,000 feet above the sea level. The extensive mountain ranges and valleys that make up this vast area are often at the higher range of elevation, from Hatton, Dick Oya and all yhe way to Talawakelle and Nanu Oya at the Western of Nuwara Eliya. The South-West Monsoon rains have a significant impact on the quality of Dimbula teas. Cold dry weather from January to March brings about changes that vary in the different valleys. This Western quality season throws out a range of teas from bodied flavour to light, delicate and fragrant.

Dimbula Subdistricts

Hatton/Dickoya

Located at the base of the hilly districts, it achieves a round liquor from fields that drop down to lower elevations and touch of Dimbula character resulting from factories high in the mountains.

Bogawantalawa

Known as the Golden Valley for its lush, vigourous tea bushes that produce full, flavoury teas throughout the year.

Upcot/Maskeliya

A tea growing district at the foot of the Adam's Peak (Sripada), a famous religious landmark of the country. The tea is perhaps not as heavy, but with a character that is unique. The Upcot area at the fringe of this district offers a selection of flavoury teas of a rosy taste.

Patana/Kotagala

Most of the plantations are above 5000 feet. A combination of unique tea bushes and cooler climate brings out the Dimbula character supported by all-round strength and body.

Nanuoya/Lindula/Talawakelle

As you climb higher and move on to Nanuoya and Lindula, one encounters teas of full body and character. Teas from plantations closer to Nuwara Eliya are lighter in cup and more fragrant.

Agarapatana

This valley is situated more to the East and is second to none for its complete combination of all the characteristics of climate and soil that has been found suitable for the production of a special class of Ceylon Tea.

Punduloya

As you descend towards Kandy, a range of lighter rosier liquors of exquisite taste are found during the season. The teas from the lower slopes are stronger in keeping with warmer conditions.

Ramboda

An area of spectacular mountain scenery and breathtaking water falls producing teas that truly refreash

At Nawalapitiya - Dimbula Road, Sri Lanka

Step 2 - Backtrace Premium Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea

2.Next stop is the tea packaging plant.

“Although tea was first used as a beverage in China nearly 5,000 years ago, the Ceylonese plantations (started in the mid-1800s) quickly became famous for the quality of their Orange Pekoe tea.  Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) has ideal conditions for growing a range of teas, ample rain and good land ranging from sea level (for strong taste) to 6,000 feet, suited to the mild Orange Pekoe greens.  Our tea, grown at about 5,000 feet, has a classic mellow Orange Pekoe taste without the bitterness of low-grown teas.”

– Lee Valley Tools Ltd. (2002)

“Tea leaves are hand picked from the bushes once each month, only two leaves and a bud from each twig.  The fresh leaves are spread on racks to wilt (losing moisture) for 18 to 24 hours before being rolled into twists to break down the cells.  These twists are spread on tables to ferment for up to 3 hours before the fermentation process is stopped and the flavours locked in by warm air drying.  The twists are broken and the resulting leaf particles are then graded and packed.”

– Lee Valley Tools Ltd. (2002)

Step 3 - Backtrace Premium Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea

3. Next stop is the Sri Lanka Port Authorities, where the tea are exported from.

At Sri Lanka Ports Authority, #19, Chaithya Road, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka.

Pacific route:

A)By Container Ship through the Indian Ocean to the Andaman Sea

B)Through the Andaman Sea and the Strait of Malacca past Singapore (second busiest port in the world behind the first, Shanghai) to the South China Sea

C)Through the South China Sea (past Hong Kong, third busiest port in the world) to the Pacific Ocean

D)Through the Pacific Ocean to the Port of Vancouver, BC, (fiftieth busiest port in the world)

E)By Rail to Ottawa, ON

Step 4, 5, 6, and 7 - Backtrace Premium Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea

4.Next stop is Lee Valley Tools Ltd., from whom online I bought the tea.

Lee Valley Tools store at 900 Morrison Avenue, Ottawa, ON

5. Next stop is UPS (United Parcel Service)

At Ottawa, ON, station
6. Next stop is UPS

At Concord, ON, station
7. Next stop is UPS

At Richmond, BC, station

Step 8 - Backtrace Premium Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea

8.Last stop, the end user of the product, is me, Kiera Polzin.

At #25, 1925 Baron Road, Kelowna, BC