Sourcing · Ceylon Tea
Ceylon tea — the strongest single-origin story in global tea.
Sri Lanka exported approximately 245 million kg of tea in 2024, around 13% of global supply, with a total export value near $1.43 billion. Ceylon Tea is one of the most recognised origin brands in the food and beverage world. We supply UK trade buyers with orthodox loose-leaf and CTC formats, single-estate and blended options, across grade tiers.
Sources: Sri Lanka Tea Board · Sri Lanka EDB Tea Sector Reports 2024
SL Tea Exports 2024
245M kg
~13% of global tea export volume
Export Value 2024
$1.43B
tea is Sri Lanka's flagship single export
UK Per-Capita
#1
largest tea-importing market per capita globally
UK Import Duty
0%
Sri Lanka under UK DCTS Enhanced Preferences
Ceylon Tea Regions
Elevation tells you the cup.
Ceylon teas split by growing elevation. High-grown (above 1,200m — Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula) produce delicate, bright, aromatic teas with golden infusion. Mid-grown (600–1,200m — Kandy) balance body and aroma. Low-grown (below 600m — Ruhuna, Sabaragamuwa) produce strong, full-bodied teas with darker liquor — the format that anchors most breakfast blends and food-service supply.
For UK trade buyers building a tea programme, the region designation on the pack is a real procurement and shelf-side signal. We supply across elevations and can match grade to use-case — premium retail, hotel breakfast service, bagging operations, or single-estate specialty.
Quality controls we operate
- EU/UK pesticide MRL compliance per batch (glyphosate flagged)
- Moisture content checked on arrival
- Estate / region traceability documented
- Cupping notes available for premium-grade lots
Formats Available
Ceylon Tea formats for UK trade.
Retail-ready packs and food-service formats. MOQ details on the MOQ & pack sizes page — exact pricing confirmed at trade-account application.
Orthodox Loose-Leaf
- Specification
- Premium grades (FOP, OP, BOP); single-estate or blended
- Minimum Order
- From 250g retail · 1 kg foodservice · 5 kg bulk
- HS Code
- 090230
CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl)
- Specification
- Granular workhorse format — strong brew, consistent
- Minimum Order
- From 500g retail · 5 kg foodservice · 25 kg bulk
- HS Code
- 090230
Single-Estate Premium
- Specification
- Named estate (Nuwara Eliya / Uva / Dimbula); silver tips on request
- Minimum Order
- Subject to estate output — confirmed at application
- HS Code
- 090230
Procurement Context
Trade reference data for procurement teams.
The supply-chain detail UK procurement and food-safety teams typically need before opening a supplier account.
- Botanical name
- Camellia sinensis (Sri Lankan)
- Origin regions
- Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Kandy, Ruhuna (low-grown)
- Harvest
- Year-round; flush variations by region and season
- HS code
- 0902.30 (black tea, immediate packings ≤3 kg) · 0902.40 (bulk >3 kg)
- UK duty (DCTS)
- 0% — Sri Lanka under UK DCTS Enhanced Preferences
- UK VAT
- Zero-rated as food
- Shelf life
- 24 months ambient, airtight
- Storage
- Cool, dry, away from light, moisture and strong odours
Apply for ceylon tea trade supply.
Apply for a trade account and we'll confirm pricing, MOQ and pack formats for your business within one business day.