In Sri Lanka, tea is the national drink. Well it has to be! Every day almost every nationality in the world will sip a liquid that was made from leaves grown here in the mysterious hills of Sri Lanka. I made the trip to the valleys and hills at Haputale in Sri Lanka to the impressive Dambatenne Tea Factory, opened by Thomas Lipton over 100 years ago. It is currently a source of tea for Scottish based company Lipton Tea amongst other worldwide tea companies and distributors. All the tea is grown locally here in the gorgeous mountains and valleys of Sri Lanka's inland region.[]
The Haputale valleys and Dambatenne Tea Factory are in the middle of nowhere! It's a hard place to get too but if you love tea then you need to find a way to get here!
Getting to Dambatenne Tea Factory
To be honest it's not easy. There are no trains or direct buses up in this hilly region but what you will need will be to hire a car or a driver. A local driver knows the roads and will ensure you get there without incident. It could be easy to get lost in this part of Sri Lanka. So basically hire a local driver to take you! []
What price is it to visit Dambatenne Tea Factory?
It's a simple 250 Rupees fee payable at the door and in cash only. There might be a slight delay to wait until one of the workers is available to show you around but it will be worth it - this place is off the beaten track!
How long does a tour of the Dambatenne Tea Factory last?
The tour is basically split into 3 parts and takes roughly 25 minutes:
1. A visit to the rooms upstairs where the tea arrives in from. They are put into machines to begin the refining process.
2. Next you visit a massive downstairs room where the tea is refined in different stages before it is finally heated.
3. Finally the tea is heated, later cooled and put into large bags ready to be shipped worldwide!
You can't take photos inside during parts 2 and 3 which is fine as it's their system. The staff will all be working hard in the background so it's important to respect that. The opening hours of the tours seemed to be 9-5 but double check before you visit.
What else can you do on the tour?
The tour is fast and will be over in a flash but it's still really worth doing. There is no shop to sit and have a tea though which I found incredible - I wanted a cup! There isn't even a souvenir shop but you can buy packets of Dambatenne Tea to take away with you, which I did. The only real souvenir.
The packet of tea cost 300 Rupees and that's the Dambatenne stuff. However the better tea called Simondou costs a whopping 1,100 Rupees! You can also buy them in the nearby towns of course.
What else is there to do nearby?
The region is very hilly so admiring the view is the best thing to do, if you hire a driver they can stop wherever you like:
1. Marvel at the epic mountain views
2. Walk at leisure round the endless tea plantations on the hills
3. Enjoy a cup of tea in a cafe with an impressive view
4. Go to the town of Haputale which has hotels, shops, an ATM and markets
So that's really all there is to it - it's a short and sweet tour but definitely worth doing!
Time for a cup of tea!
The Haputale valleys and Dambatenne Tea Factory are in the middle of nowhere! It's a hard place to get too but if you love tea then you need to find a way to get here!
Getting to Dambatenne Tea Factory
To be honest it's not easy. There are no trains or direct buses up in this hilly region but what you will need will be to hire a car or a driver. A local driver knows the roads and will ensure you get there without incident. It could be easy to get lost in this part of Sri Lanka. So basically hire a local driver to take you! []
What price is it to visit Dambatenne Tea Factory?
It's a simple 250 Rupees fee payable at the door and in cash only. There might be a slight delay to wait until one of the workers is available to show you around but it will be worth it - this place is off the beaten track!
How long does a tour of the Dambatenne Tea Factory last?
The tour is basically split into 3 parts and takes roughly 25 minutes:
1. A visit to the rooms upstairs where the tea arrives in from. They are put into machines to begin the refining process.
2. Next you visit a massive downstairs room where the tea is refined in different stages before it is finally heated.
3. Finally the tea is heated, later cooled and put into large bags ready to be shipped worldwide!
You can't take photos inside during parts 2 and 3 which is fine as it's their system. The staff will all be working hard in the background so it's important to respect that. The opening hours of the tours seemed to be 9-5 but double check before you visit.
What else can you do on the tour?
The tour is fast and will be over in a flash but it's still really worth doing. There is no shop to sit and have a tea though which I found incredible - I wanted a cup! There isn't even a souvenir shop but you can buy packets of Dambatenne Tea to take away with you, which I did. The only real souvenir.
The packet of tea cost 300 Rupees and that's the Dambatenne stuff. However the better tea called Simondou costs a whopping 1,100 Rupees! You can also buy them in the nearby towns of course.
What else is there to do nearby?
The region is very hilly so admiring the view is the best thing to do, if you hire a driver they can stop wherever you like:
1. Marvel at the epic mountain views
2. Walk at leisure round the endless tea plantations on the hills
3. Enjoy a cup of tea in a cafe with an impressive view
4. Go to the town of Haputale which has hotels, shops, an ATM and markets
So that's really all there is to it - it's a short and sweet tour but definitely worth doing!
Time for a cup of tea!
About the Author:
For more fantastic articles like Dambatenne Tea Factory visit the marvellous travel lifestyle website by Jonny Blair for endless travel advice!
EmoticonEmoticon