History of Tea
1839
Establishment of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce 1854
Establishment of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon 1867
James Taylor planted the first 19 acres of tea in Loolecondra Estate near Kandy, Ceylon and this marked the birth tea industry in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1872
First sale of Loolecondra teas in Kandy 1873
Export of Sri Lanka’s first tea consignment of 23 lbs from Loolecondra Estate to London 1876
Founding of the first Broking firm John Brothers & Co. 1877
Manufacture of first “SIROCCO” tea drier by Samuel C. Davidson 1880
Manufacture of first tea rolling machine by John Walker & Co. 1883
The first public Colombo Auction was held at the premises of Somerville & Co.on 30th July, 1883, under the auspices of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce 1884
Construction of a Central Tea Factory on Fairy land Estate (Pedro) in Nuwara-Eliya 1891
Ceylon Tea established a record price of £36.15 per lb at the London Tea Auctions 1892
James Taylor, aged 57 years, died in Ceylon on 2nd May, 1892
1894
Formation of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association 1896
Colombo Brokers’ Association was formed 1915
Mr. Thomas Amarasuriya, first Ceylonese to be appointed as Chairman of the Planters’ Association 1925
Establishment of Tea Research Institute 1927
Sri Lanka’s tea production exceeded 100,000 metric tons Sri Lanka’s tea exports exceeded 100,000 metric tons 1932
Formation of The Ceylon Tea Propaganda Board Export of poor quality tea was prohibited 1934
World’s largest tea bush was found in Ceylon at Battawatta Group, Madulsima. It had a diameter of 24 feet and a circumference of 67 feet. Four pounds of green leaf were plucked from it on one day 1935
Set up the International Tea Market Expansion Board (ITMEB) in which Ceylon was a founder member 1938
The Tea Research Institute commenced work on vegetative propagation at St. Coombs Estate, Talawakele 1940
Biological control of the leaf eating Tea Tortrix Caterpillar by
Establishment of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce 1854
Establishment of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon 1867
James Taylor planted the first 19 acres of tea in Loolecondra Estate near Kandy, Ceylon and this marked the birth tea industry in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1872
First sale of Loolecondra teas in Kandy 1873
Export of Sri Lanka’s first tea consignment of 23 lbs from Loolecondra Estate to London 1876
Founding of the first Broking firm John Brothers & Co. 1877
Manufacture of first “SIROCCO” tea drier by Samuel C. Davidson 1880
Manufacture of first tea rolling machine by John Walker & Co. 1883
The first public Colombo Auction was held at the premises of Somerville & Co.on 30th July, 1883, under the auspices of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce 1884
Construction of a Central Tea Factory on Fairy land Estate (Pedro) in Nuwara-Eliya 1891
Ceylon Tea established a record price of £36.15 per lb at the London Tea Auctions 1892
James Taylor, aged 57 years, died in Ceylon on 2nd May, 1892
1894
Formation of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association 1896
Colombo Brokers’ Association was formed 1915
Mr. Thomas Amarasuriya, first Ceylonese to be appointed as Chairman of the Planters’ Association 1925
Establishment of Tea Research Institute 1927
Sri Lanka’s tea production exceeded 100,000 metric tons Sri Lanka’s tea exports exceeded 100,000 metric tons 1932
Formation of The Ceylon Tea Propaganda Board Export of poor quality tea was prohibited 1934
World’s largest tea bush was found in Ceylon at Battawatta Group, Madulsima. It had a diameter of 24 feet and a circumference of 67 feet. Four pounds of green leaf were plucked from it on one day 1935
Set up the International Tea Market Expansion Board (ITMEB) in which Ceylon was a founder member 1938
The Tea Research Institute commenced work on vegetative propagation at St. Coombs Estate, Talawakele 1940
Biological control of the leaf eating Tea Tortrix Caterpillar by