Tea plantations 

Sri Lanka is the world's third-largest tea exporter after India and China. Ceylon tea, grown around Nuwara Eliya, is considered the finest on the island.

Nuwara Eliya literally means "City of Light." Situated at an altitude of 1,803 meters above sea level, it is the highest town on the island. The climate here resembles that of the English countryside, and it is known as the coldest place in Sri Lanka. Surrounding the town are neatly arranged tea plantations interwoven with walking paths, as well as several tea factories. Some of these offer guided tours for visitors, including tastings and the opportunity to purchase tea.

There are many types of tea, but the most highly valued is high-grown tea (above 1,200 meters), which grows more slowly but is stronger and of higher quality than lowland tea. Harvesting is still done by hand today. A single picker can gather up to 20 kilograms of tea leaves per day, which, after drying, yields about 5 kilograms of tea. The most important stage of tea production is fermentation, during which the leaves are rapidly heated and then stored in a cool, humid room. After drying, the tea is filtered and graded according to quality.