tea

training
 Dilmah Corporate Video (6 minutes)

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 Tea, nature’s wondrous gift
• Tea is one of the most natural of drinks
made purely from the leaves of the plant
Camellia sinensis
• Tea brightens mornings
• Refreshes afternoons
• Provides warmth at night
• Soothes frayed nerves and stimulates
tired minds
• Brings people together around food,
conversation and hospitality

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 The Origins of Tea
Tea originated in China, as legend has it,
5,000 years ago with Chinese emperor
Shen Nung claiming the health benefits of
tea in 2737 BC. However it was Ceylon
(now Sri Lanka) that made tea famous in
the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Scotsman James Taylor is attributed to
planting the first tea estate in Sri Lanka. It
was in 1867 that Taylor planted 20 acres
of tea on the Loolecondera estate (of
which he was superintendent). It was here
he perfected the technique of fine
plucking – ‘two leaves and a bud.’

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 Tea can be broadly
categorized into 04 types

Black Teas Oolong Teas Green Teas White Teas

Fully fermented Semi-fermented Un-fermented Sundried

These four types of teas could be found in the following countries

India, Sri Lanka

Taiwan China & Japan China, Sri Lanka
(Ceylon) and China

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 Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Manufacturing Chart

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 Manufacturing Video (4 minutes)

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The story behind
your cu p of tea
plucking
withering
rolling
roll breaking
fermentation
drying & firing
sifting
 Terroir
Borrowed from the French called ‘terroir’ (pronounced tear-wah)
that perhaps sums up why no two teas are alike

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 How does a tea get its unique taste?
Why do two teas, produced in different parts of the world, or in different
elevations taste different, even if the processing were identical?

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 Tea Growing Regions

High grown teas - Dimbulla and Nuwara Eliya

Medium grown teas - Kandy and Matale

Low grown teas - Ratnapura & Galle

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 Tea Growing Regions

High grown Mid grown Low grown

teas teas teas

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www.schooloftea.org
Watte single Region tea
ran watte uda watte
High Grown, at 6000 feet above sea level. High Grown, at 5000 feet above sea level.
Ran Watte offers a delicate, mellow taste, subtle Uda Watte is rich, full bodied, brimming with
fragrance, in the style of fine Champagne; best for flavour, intense aroma & well rounded, in the
late evening or after dinner relaxation. A sliver of style of a Pinot Noir; best for “bed tea”, breakfast
ginger or a slice of lemon, a touch of cinnamon & early afternoon. If you take your tea white &
would enhance your enjoyment. If you take tea sweet, a touch of dairy milk and honey protect the
sweet add bees honey. Do not add milk. natural goodness of tea.

meda watte yata watte

Mid Grown, at 3000 feet above sea level. Low Grown, from sea level to 1000 feet.
Meda Watte tea is strong, elegant & velvety on the Yata Watte tea is heavy, robust, intense in the style
palate, in the style of a Shiraz; best for afternoon of Cabernet Sauvignon. It may be enjoyed
or early evening. If you take your tea white & anytime, if your preference is for strong tea. If you
sweet, a touch of dairy milk and honey protect the take your tea white & sweet, a touch of dairy milk
natural goodness of tea. and honey protect the natural goodness of tea.

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 Ran Watte
High Grown Teas - Dimbula Uda, Nuwara Eliya

Uda Watte
Uva Teas - Eastern Highlands

Meda Watte
Medium Grown Teas - Kandy and Matale

Yata Watte
Low Grown Teas - Ratnapura & Galle

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 TEA &
HEALTH

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 Tea & Health
• From ancient times tea was considered a
beverage of great medicinal value
• Tea contains minerals, vitamins, alkaloids
and polyphenols
• Polyphenols in tea act as antioxidants that
destroy Free Radicals, a harmful property
that causes damage to the body
• Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals
(toxic molecules) in body tissues
• Exposure to free radicals for long
durations leads to diseases such as heart
diseases, cataract etc
• The health benefits of tea has been found
to reduce the risk of or prevent many
degenerative diseases and health hazards
such as heart disease, cancers, tooth decay,
diabetes and cholesterol

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 Tea & Health
Natural beverage
• No agents are added to facilitate or
improve processing
• No preservatives or colouring agents are
added to the end product
• No agents are added in the preparation of
the brew

Caffeine
• Central nervous system stimulant
• Weak bronchodilator
• Mild diuretic

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 Tea & Health
The “tannins” in tea (bitter taste) gives tea
its colour and overall taste. It is useful
to control diarrhoea, to soothe red
eyes and treat infections of the mouth
Tea contains only half the amount of
caffeine that coffee does
Drinking four cups of tea a day is
recommended for a healthy lifestyle

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 Why Fresh Tea?
• Richer in Anti-Oxidants
• Fresh tea tastes better and fresher
• Subtle nuances of the delicate
flavours are lost with time
Wine matures with age…
Tea deteriorates with age….

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 Loose Leaf Tea Tea Bags

Traditional Modern - post-war era

Yields very high quality teas Gives a faster brew

Needs time to brew and

Ideal for fast paced life-styles
express it’s flavour & quality

Top premium teas are Compromise:

always in Leaf tea form Convenience / Quality

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 Finer points in brewing video (20 minutes)

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 The Art of Brewing Tea
LEAF, INFUSED LEAF AND LIQUOR

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