Ceylon Orange Pekoe, New Vithanakande Estate
Ceylon Orange Pekoe, New Vithanakande Estate
Tasting notes
- walnut
- citron
- toast
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Hailing from Sri Lanka, Ceylon makes a classic British-style cup and is often used in breakfast tea blends. This unblended single lot, grown in the low-elevation Ratnapura district, is a superior grade (FBOPFEXSP) from New Vithanakande Estate. For this type, only the top quality leaves are hand-picked and carefully processed.
Note the sheen on the deep-brown, delicately twisted leaves, interspersed with abundant silver and golden buds. These buds contribute exquisite flavor to a brisk and honeyed infusion, with hints of baked goods, citron, and sundried tomato, and a pleasant, lingering astringency. Although full-bodied enough to blend well with milk or a sweetener, it’s a delightful black tea to enjoy on its own.
Country: Sri Lanka
Region: Ratnapura
Tasting Notes: walnut, citron, toast
Harvest Season: Summer 2025
4 oz or 1 lb
Click here to order a small sample size of this tea.
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210º F
3-4 grams, 3 minute steep
¼ full, 30 second-1 minute steep
Sri Lanka, island of tea
"Ceylon" is an English spin on Ceilão, which is what the Portuguese called the island in the 16th century. Teas grown in Sri Lanka are labeled Ceylon, no matter the type, though the name usually refers to a sunny black tea that's darker than Darjeeling but lighter than Assam.
New Vithanakande Estate works with 6,000 small family farms to source fresh tea leaves. The factory provides farmers with seeds, fertilizer and loans for capital improvement projects, as well as training in tea horticulture and plucking standards. When a particularly good harvest comes in, workers whisk away the top grade finished material for reserve teas like this FBOPFEXSP, the highest grade the factory produces. It can take months of selection to yield enough tea for this special grade.