Monkeytail Premium Orange Pekoe – 250g

Gammaduwa Bungalow and Organic Tea Gardens are home to Monkeytail Teas and rests high up in the Knuckles Mountains in Central Sri Lanka. It is a 120 year old Heritage Site which is run as a small private guest house offering high quality accommodation and gourmet fusion Sri Lankan dishes  and, of course, gorgeous gourmet artisan teas. Attached to the bungalow are 7 acres of vintage tea divided into 5 fields/Gardens below an old pine forest. Tea is plucked on a 10-day round in the wet season or a 15-day round in the dry season. The Tea Gardens have been brought back to life by our small team of field staff led by Kethis, our Estate Manager, whose families have worked local tea fields for generations. We use organic holistic methodologies focusing on the use of local materials and the harvesting of natural plants as layered compost. There are two permanent tea pluckers, Poovadhi and Amirthum who are supported by our ‘Kangani’ (team leader/supervisor) who has worked on the tea estate for the past 60 years. The small tea factory is directed by our Tea Maker and a part time tea-maker. All staff in the Bungalow, Garden estate and Factory are employed from the village and been trained-up to deliver these demanding new exciting roles by owners Dave and project supporters who have given time to help them learn. Special thanks to Beverly from the “Scottish Tea Factory” and our colleagues at CATA who help us remain committed and enthusiastic regardless of the difficulties we face. 

The aim of the tea factory is to produce exceptional and unique artisanal teas and add social benefits to local people by increasing quality and value to the green leaf produced on the estate, to offer and sell Monkeytail tea to guests, and to export in small amounts offering a unique consumer experience. In the long term, it is hoped that the factory may provide more employment in the village, profit share, and help local farmers develop the skills and knowledge to make their own unique artisan teas