Directly and indirectly, over one million Sri Lankans are employed in the tea industry. A large proportion of the workforce are young women and the minimum working age is twelve. As tea plantations grew in Sri Lanka and demanded extensive labor, finding an abundant workforce was a problem for planters. Sinhalese people were reluctant to work in the plantations. Indian Tamils were brought to Sri Lanka at the beginning of the coffee plantations. Immigration of Indian Tamils steadily increased and by 1855 there were 55,000 new immigrants. By the end of the coffee era there were some 100,000 in Sri Lanka. Today, as a community, they remain instrumental to the Tea Industry.

Experience Overview

The Rothchild’s Tea Factory is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka. The eponymous English cuppa might have been somewhat stronger if not for the 1865 coffee blight. Old Ceylon’s up-country plantations were devastated – but not so the spirits of the pioneering planters. They threw in a crop of tea and never looked back. You will visit a plantation, and observe how the plant is grown and harvested. From here you will travel to a factory, and learn about the whole processing procedure and how different types of teas are created.

Includes:

A guide, water, factory tour and a vehicle

Duration:

Approx. 1.5 hours

Difficulty:

Easy

Suitable for children:

Children may not follow the descriptive element of the tour, but might enjoy the hum, throb and noise of the machines

Meeting time:

The visit starts in the morning, to be decided with your guide.

What to wear or bring along:

There is no need to take any specific clothing.

Important to know:

It can be noisy and dusty inside the factory. Tea Factories are usually closed on Sundays. We recommend using the rest rooms before going to the Tea Factory as the facilities will be preferable in your hotel.

Private or not?

The visit is private

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The Rothchild’s tea factory – Pussellawa - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style

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Managing Expectations

“ It is important to remember that, whilst they are experts in their field, the people who run or host our experiences are not necessarily used to working in the tourism industry and may not offer the level of service you would find at a five-star hotel. For example, instead of a formal lecture, you may get a relaxed conversation where open discussion is encouraged. All of our hosts are, however, extremely engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about their chosen subject and we have worked with them to ensure that they deliver worthwhile, fulfilling experiences. We welcome feedback, so please let us know what you thought and if you think any improvements could be made to the experiences we offer. ”

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The Rothchild’s tea factory – Pussellawa