Tea Trails of the World
By Thiloththama Jayasinghe - Journalist
Wander through the world’s most enchanting tea landscapes—one steeped cup at a time.
Darjeeling, India – The Champagne of Teas
High in the foothills of the Himalayas, where clouds brush emerald slopes and cool mists whisper through the air, lies Darjeeling—India’s crown jewel of tea. First cultivated by the British in the 19th century, Darjeeling’s unique terroir gives rise to delicate, floral teas with muscatel notes that have earned it the title “Champagne of Teas.”
Tea here is more than a drink; it’s a ritual. Visitors can explore colonial-era plantations like Makaibari and Happy Valley, walk through tea bushes that stretch to the horizon, and watch expert pluckers at work—each hand movement a part of a centuries-old choreography. Whether sipping first flush in a plantation bungalow or soaking in the sunrise from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling offers a sensory journey into both flavor and history.
Uji, Japan – Zen and the Art of Matcha
South of Kyoto, where ancient temples sit in perfect harmony with nature, the town of Uji whispers the soul of Japanese tea. Renowned for producing the country’s finest matcha and gyokuro, Uji is where tea meets tradition in its purest form.
Green tea has been cultivated here since the 13th century, and even today, families pass down the secrets of shading, steaming, and stone-grinding the perfect matcha. Visitors can tour artisanal tea farms nestled among cypress forests and participate in serene tea ceremonies that embody the Japanese principles of wabi-sabi—the beauty of simplicity and imperfection.
Uji’s tea is more than a product; it’s a philosophy. With every frothy bowl of emerald-green matcha comes an invitation to slow down, breathe, and be present.
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka – The English Garden in the Tropics
Often called “Little England” for its colonial charm and cool climate, Nuwara Eliya sits high in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. This is the heartland of Ceylon tea, where rolling plantations sprawl like green waves beneath misty mountain skies.
Introduced by British planters in the 1800s, tea transformed the region into a living legacy of labor and landscape. Today, estates like Pedro and Labookellie offer immersive experiences—from plucking your own leaves to watching the oxidizing process in vintage tea factories.
But Nuwara Eliya is more than just tea. With its rose gardens, strawberry farms, and quaint bungalows, it offers a nostalgic escape into another era—where each cup of Ceylon tea comes with a view and a story.
Steeping Stories across Borders
Though miles apart in culture and climate, Darjeeling, Uji, and Nuwara Eliya are bound by a common thread—tea as a symbol of place, patience, and people. Each destination offers a sip of heritage, brewed slowly over generations.
So, whether you’re wandering through fog-draped hills, meditating in a Kyoto garden, or strolling past colonial cottages, let your travels be guided by the aroma of freshly brewed tea. Because to follow the tea trails of the world is to taste the world itself.
