Galle may be best known for its historic Dutch Fort and laid-back coastal charm, but there’s another side to this region waiting to be explored. Head inland for a day, and you will discover lush lowland tea estates that provide a truly unforgettable visitor experience.
What You Need to Know About Lowland Tea
When you think of Sri Lankan tea, the cool, misty highlands around Nuwara Eliya might spring to mind. Yet the island’s warm, humid coastal regions, including Galle, produce their own distinctive low-grown or lowland tea. Thanks to the different growing conditions, these teas often have a strong, dark and full-bodied character, with delicious malty, sweet or caramel notes.
Choosing an Ideal Place to Stay
Staying in the Galle District in towns like Habaraduwa makes it easy to enjoy both the coast and the countryside. Choose a beachfront property such as KK Beach within reach of the Dutch Fort that can arrange visits to local tea plantations too. Ocean-view rooms and suites, as well as a pool and restaurant overlooking the sea, add to the appeal, while in-room massages offer a relaxing end to your day.
Going on a Tea Plantation Tour
Set off from your Galle-based beach hotel in Sri Lanka for an immersive visit to a lowland tea estate, where traditional cultivation and processing methods are still carefully preserved. Wander through emerald-green fields as skilled pickers gather tender leaves, then step inside the factory to see how they are transformed through withering, rolling, oxidation and drying. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the work behind every cup.
Discover Unique Virgin White Tea
A visit to the Handunugoda Tea Estate lets you discover its celebrated Virgin White Tea, made using a traditional, carefully controlled process that dates back to China, many centuries ago. At dawn, pickers wearing delicate gloves use golden scissors to harvest the buds without touching them by hand. The leaves are then dried using only filtered sunlight, and the result is a highly healthy tea rich in antioxidants. Watching the process is truly fascinating, plus you get a chance to savour this rare tea as well.