Ceylon tea like Assam tea is produced mostly as a black tea variety.
There are many grades of Ceylon along with many tea estates that grow them. The well-known Lipton tea company uses Ceylon tea in most of their black tea products. They are labeled as "orange pekoe" or "pekoe" grade which they put in tea bags. However the focus of my site is loose leaf tea brewing which offers superior flavor over ordinary bags.
Ceylon is the old name for Sri Lanka, and it is here in Sri Lanka where this tea grows.
Sri Lanka is an island located of the southern coast of India and is the third largest tea producer in the world.
The tea industry in this country began shortly after a fungus named Hemileia vastatrix destroyed most of the coffee crops on the island. Due to this event, today there are many tea estates that grow different grades of this delicious black tea instead.
Ceylon leaves can vary in size, are twisted that are almost black in color, and produce a liquor that is dark copper with an earthy, sweet, and sometimes citrus taste which can be enjoyed with or without milk. The teas are grown at different elevations, of course the highest being the best quality, and harvested 3 times a year.
As with all teas, the first flush is the best, producing the top quality tea leaves. February and March are the months of the first flush. The April, May, and June flushes produce the larger commercial grade quality and are not as expensive. August and September give another top quality flush as well.
Most Ceylon teas found in the cup are grown at "mid-range" elevations, and are probably grown between the months of April and June as mentioned above. The higher quality leaves (as in the case with Darjeeling tea) are grown high in the mountains and are a rare breed of Ceylon. At the time of this writing I am yet to give my opinion on these greater quality teas.
A great thing about Ceylon tea is its ability to blend well with other teas. "Irish Breakfast" is a common tea blended using Ceylon and Assam varieties. "Earl Grey" is a good example of how Ceylon tea, when infused with oils and fruit can make a fine beverage. But for some folks (like me) you can enjoy it all by itself too. It is great in the morning or afternoon and has half the caffeine than coffee!
In fact Ceylon tea was my first loose leaf black tea variety I experienced, and to this day has replaced my morning cup of coffee.
