Sri Lanka Hotel Guide

Anilana Pasikuda location
Anilana Pasikuda is located in the breathtaking bay beach of Pasikuda. Pasikuda is located 9km north of Kalkuda bay beach, an equally tranquil, equally magnificent bay beach. 125km north along the eastern coast, once again is wondrous Sri Lanka Holidays Nilaveli Bay Beach at Trincomalee.

Setting of Anilana Pasikuda
Anilana Pasikuda is a beachfront hotel facing the Pasikudah bay beach set up in a tropical hideaway 3 hectares in acreage. The expansive beach holds aloft an exhilarating sense of peace and air of  tranquility.

Sri Lanka Holidays Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials of Anilana Pasikuda: to be edited.
Architecture & Interior deco of Anilana Pasikuda: The well-furnished Anilana Pasikuda is of contemporary design.
Type of the Hotel & Star rating of Anilana Pasikuda: Beach hotel

Accommodation at Anilana Pasikuda
Anilana Pasikuda offers three options in accommodation: chalets; suits; lofts; rooms. All elegantly furnished accommodation options consist of comfortable bed rooms and spacious bathrooms.

Pasikuda Bay Suite
Pasikuda Bay Suite has panoramic views of the Pasikuda Bay.

Anilana Suite
Anilana Suite is set up with a spacious living area, private terrace and both indoor and outdoor shower pleasures. Some of these suits feature connecting doors.
These individual Junior suites boast some of the best views of the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

Kalkuda Suite
Kalkuda Suite built with exquisite elegance, bring in the Kalkuda beach onto the far vicinity.

Pool Chalets
Pool Chalets laid out in front of the pool, sharing detached pavilions, appointed with private terraces and spacious bathrooms, for the more active traveler.

Lofts
Lofts feature, a double rooms on two levels. While the first level features a living area and a bedroom, the level 2 features a smaller bedroom. Elegant furnishing is accented with luxuriant space and plush bedding.

Deluxe
With a large sized bed and the fittings of contemporary designs these Deluxe rooms are tastefully furnished.

Beach Chalets
Beach Chalets opening to a private patio or balcony with private terraces, bring in panoramic views of pristine beach and Indian Ocean.

Facilities at Anilana Pasikuda
Dining: Anilana Pasikudah’s show kitchen prepares and serves all its guests Sri Lankan delicacies as well as favorites of international cuisine. Most of the fresh produce brought into the kitchen straight from the Anilana Pasikuda’s own farm.

Leisure at Anilana Pasikuda
Swimming Pool facing the Indian Ocean and Spa

Excursions off Anilana Pasikuda
Sri Lanka Holidays Kalkuda bay beach located 9km north, also on the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Holidays Nilaveli bay beach of Trincomalee located125km north, again on the eastern coast of the Island

Jetwing Blue Negombo location
Jetwing Beach Negombo [ formerly Blue Oceanic ] is located is just 3km from the Negombo city centre in the beach of Ethukala, Negombo. Jetwing Beach Negombo is12 km [20 minutes by motor road] from CMB Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake, Negombo. The city of Colombo is 39km [80 minutes] to the south.
Jetwing Blue Negombo’s sister hotels, i.e. Jetwing Beach Negombo and Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions too are located withing the walking distance on the same road called Porutota.

Setting of Jetwing Blue Negombo
Jetwing Beach Negombo is beachfront hotel with an extensive beach frontage in Negombo.

Sri Lanka Holidays Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials of Jetwing Blue Negombo: to be edited.

Architecture & Interior deco of Jetwing Blue Negombo
Jetwing Blue Negombo is built in the architectural concepts developed by Sri Lanka’s most renowned architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Jetwing Blue Negombo brings in a combination of rich dark furniture and soft colors.

Type of the Hotel and Star rating of Jetwing Blue Negombo: 5 star; beach hotel.
Jetwing Blue Negombo is a member of the prestigious small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Accommodation at Jetwing Blue Negombo
Jetwing Blue Negombo consists of 112 spacious bedrooms including 82 Deluxe Rooms, 21 Super Deluxe Rooms and 3 family rooms and 6 suites. All rooms have its own private balcony that affords grand views of the beach and ocean.
In-room facilities include a/c, overhead fan, plasma TV with satellite channels, DVD player, IDD telephone, mini-bar, tea/coffee facility, room safe. Ensuite bathrooms have bathtubs and h/w showers.

Facilities at Jetwing Blue Negombo
Dining
The Kitchen
As the name suggests, The Kitchen is a Show Kitchen. It is the Main Restaurant and offers a la carte menus and an American Breakfast buffet. The Kitchen features a health corner.
Jetwing Blue Negombo also affords you all its signature dining: In room, Beach BBQ, the Terrace for al fresco star lit dinners or a romantic spa dinner.
Centre Point Grill & Bar
Herein you all are served light meals with succulent snacks and the beverages to keep you up in good spirits throughout the day.
The Float
Fine wines, great spirits and heady mixes of cocktails are served at anytime night or day.

Leisure at Jetwing Blue Negombo
Swimming Pools
Jetwing Blue has two swimming pools with one having lounge chairs immersed right in the water to keep your feet cool on a hot tropical day.
Spa
There is also a spa offering rejuvenating massages.
For extensive Ayurvedic wellness as well as yoga, guests are welcome to use the facilities at the hotel’s sister property, Ayurveda Pavilions located 600 meters south of Jetwing Blue Negombo
Others
Gym, squash courts and a banquet hall.

Excursions off Jetwing Blue Negombo
Boat ride into  Muthurajawela marshes Sri Lanka Holidays bird sanctuary [23km south of Jetwing Blue Negombo], home to numerous species of birds and fish, dragon flies and monitor lizards.
Visiting Portuguese period Catholic Churches, ruins of the Dutch Fort and cemetery.

Jetwing Beach Negombo Hotel location
Jetwing Beach Negombo Hotel is located in the beach of Ethukala on the outskirts of the western coast town of Negombo at a distance of 12 km [20 mintues by motor raod] from CMB Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake, Negombo.
170 meters south of Jetwing Beach Negombo Hotel, on the same road, i.e. Portutota Road is its sister hotel Jetwing Blue. Further 580 south, also on Portutota Road is its other sister hotel Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions.
The nearest railway station is at the village of Kattuwa.

Setting of Jetwing Beach Negombo
Jetwing Beach Negombo hotel is beachfront hotel that sits prettily on the sandy beach of the village Ethukala lined by groves of coconut palm trees.

Sri Lanka Holidays Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials of Jetwing Beach Negombo hotel: to be edited.

Architecture & Interior deco of Jetwing Beach Negombo Hotel
Jetwing Beach Negombo is built in the architectural concepts developed by Sri Lanka’s most renowned architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Jetwing Beach Negombo brings in a combination of rich dark furniture and soft colors.

Type of the Hotel and Star rating of Jetwing Beach Negombo Hotel: 4 star; beach hotel.
Jetwing Beach Negombo is a member of the prestigious small Luxury Hotels of the World

Accommodation at Jetwing Beach Negombo
Jetwing Beach Negombo consists of 75 spacious rooms made comfortable with furniture made of tropical hardwood teak. Every room features a broad balcony that brings in views of the Indian ocean to the west.

Deluxe rooms
Deluxe rooms are equipped with individual air conditioning, telephone and IDD facility, mini bar, tea & coffee making facilities, safety locker, cable television, CD DVD player, hair dryer, & magnifying shaving mirror,

Suits
The three 3 luxury suites with a large open courtyard, an open rain shower and a Jacuzzi are supplemented with butler service.

Facilities at Jetwing Beach Negombo
Spa: The spa has two Single Treatment rooms
Thai & Shiatsu Room equipped with a Jacuzzi
Rama / Sitha Room equipped with a Jacuzzi, and a steam room

Dining: two restaurants & two bars
Black Coral that serves delicious à la carte specialities.
The Sands Restaurant
Bars: two bars within and one at the adjoining Jetwing property
On the beach
Within the Sands restaurant
The bar at the Jetwing Blue

Facilities for Meetings and Business at Jetwing Beach Negombo
Centrally air-conditioned meeting room with podium is well equipped with PA system, wall mounted speakers, multimedia, overhead projector with screen, white Boards, flip charts, TV, recording facilities, DVD / CD player
Dedicated operator in attendance during the proceedings.

Excursions off Jetwing Beach Negombo
Angurukaramulla Temple at Negombo
Kelaniya Royal Temple in the city of Kelaniya located 37 km south of Jetwing Beach Negombo
Venture off to Negombo and explore the fishing villages.
A fishing ride on a catamaran with the local fishermen.
Churches in Negombo and surrounding built during the eras of Dutch and Portuguese colonialists.
Boat ride in Muthurajawela marshes, a Sri Lanka Holidays bird sanctuary and Negombo lagoon.

Location of The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo, as its name suggests is an airport hotel located at a mere distance of 3.5 km from CMB Bandaranayke Int’l airport at Katunayake, Negombo, Sri Lanka on Colombo-Negombo A3 main road. It adjoins the Katunayake Free Trade Zone too. The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo (30 km from the heart of Colombo) has been first choice airport hotel in Sri Lanka Holidays since the beginning of its operations.

Setting of The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo is built on a 38-acre coconut plantation bordering the tranquil and picturesque Negombo Lagoon, the largest brackish water lagoon in Sri Lanka. Negombo lagoon surrounded by coconut palm groves brings in a memorable tropical sight while arriving aircrafts descend for landing at CMB Colombo Bandaranayke Int’l airport at Katunayake, Negombo.

Sri Lanka Holidays Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials of The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo: Green Globe certified eco-friendly hotel.

Type of hotel & star rating of The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo: a four-star luxury hotel

Accommodation at The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo consists of 107 centrally air-conditioned rooms and 03 suites, equipped with modern amenities and conveniences.

In-room facilities include a/c, overhead fans, cable TV, IDD telephone, internet, mini-bar, tea/coffee facility and safety lockers.
Facilities at The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
Swimming pool, volleyball, tennis, wind surfing & children’s park
fully equipped fitness centre, spa, beauty salon
Business centre, conference facilities, doctor-on-call
shopping arcade, and Heli pad.

Facilities at The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo: restaurants and bars

Golden Dragon
Golden Dragon at The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo is the restaurant of choice of the epicureans staying in the hotel. Its conventional Chinese Blush designed in cozy seating patterns. A range of Szechwan and Canton cuisine Chinese Szechuan cuisine is served at the restaurant.
The Buzz
The buzz, a 24 hour restaurant overlooking the swimming pool serves Sri Lankan, Indian and continental cuisine.
Society Coffee Shop
Society Coffee Shop is a 24 hour Coffee Shop that serves an array of dishes that cut across geographical boundaries suits all sorts of travelers and Sri Lanka Holidays makers: those who need to have power breakfast, business lunch & romantic dinners.
Cricketer’s Arms Pub
Cricketer’s Arms Pub, a well stocked bar that sets up a ambience that soothes your find serves a wide range of liquors and spirits together with your favorite cocktail.

Leisure and recreation at The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
The well maintained swimming pool
Fully equipped Gymnasium

Business Centre
The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden’s Business Center is open round the clock; day in, day out. It is well equipped with Internet connectivity, work stations, multimedia computers, printers, lap tops, photocopy machines and cellular phones.
The secretarial services too is extended to the business man making the Business Center complete in every sense.

Excursions off The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
Angurukaramulla Temple located 8km north of The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
Kelaniya Royal Temple in the city of Kelaniya located 35 km south of The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Colombo
Venture off to Negombo and explore the fishing villages.
A fishing ride on a catamaran with the local fishermen.
Churches in Negombo and surrounding built during the eras of Dutch and Portuguese colonialists.
Boat ride in Muthurajawela marshes, a Sri Lanka Holidays bird sanctuary and Negombo lagoon.

Location of Ramada Katunayake
Ramada Katunayake, a 4 star luxury hotel is located 9km south of CMB Colombo Bandaranayake Int’l Airport (BIA) on Negombo- Colombo A3 main road.

Setting of Ramada Katunayake
Ramada Katunayake faces the main coastal road to Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo from Negombo, 50 meters north of the Dadugama bridge over River Dadugma that flows into the Indian Ocean to the west.

Domestic Air travel to Sri Lanka Holidays attractions off River Dadugama
The Water Aerodrome [Kindigoda Road, Seeduwa] on the River Dadugama, serviced by SriLankan Airlines’ Air Taxi, is located 1.5 km off Ramada Katunayake, making the 4 star hotel a convenient hub to fly with the main domestic air passage operator, to the Sri Lanka Holidays attractions around the ancient tropical island.15-seater Twin Otter float planes of SriLankan Airlines Air Taxi service transfer passengers 14 Sri Lanka Holidays destinations.

Sri Lanka Holidays Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials of Ramada Katunayake: to be edited.

Type of hotel & star rating of Ramada Katunayake: a four-star luxury hotel

Accommodation at Ramada Katunayake
The three story building of Ramada Katunayake houses 52 elegantly designed rooms equipped with smoke detectors & fire resistant features.
All rooms, i.e. Standard, Deluxe and Suite are equipped with high speed internet as well as flat screen TV’s as standard features.

In-house facilities at Ramada Katunayake
Wheel chair access
Safe deposit box at the Front Desk
Board Room with High Speed Internet Access
Conference room with High Speed Internet Access
Banquet Hall

Restaurants and Bars at Ramada Katunayake
Lounge Bar at Ramada Katunayake with its live band playing soft music is popular among the business travellers as well as the leisure travellers.
The restaurant and coffee shop overlooking the pool serves cuisine Eastern as well as European.

Banquet/Conference hall at Ramada Katunayake
Banquet ,Conference hall comfortabley accomoates 125 guests.
Ramada Katunayake also arranges also accommodates Private board room meetings for group of guests 6- 12.

Leisure and recreation at Ramada Katunayake
The well maintained swimming pool is shaded by the tropical greenery
Fully equipped Gymnasium next to the swimming pool

Excursions off Ramada Katunayake
Negombo beach 12km north of Ramada Katunayake
Angurukaramulla Temple located 10km north of Ramada Katunayake
Kelaniya Royal Temple in the city of Kelaniya located 31 km south of Ramada Katunayake.

Jetwing Colombo scheduled to be opened in January 2014, will have 70 deluxe rooms and 28 serviced apartments designed by a leading architectural firm in Singapore.

Jetwing Colombo will be fully equipped to deal with  the whole range of  travelers from business (with a state of the art conference facility and business centre) to leisure.

Rooftop swimming pool, nature spa. gym and fitness centre.

The Swiss hospitality chain Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts will begin its first ever hotel, Mövenpick Hotel Colombo, the 19-floor, 180-room hotel, in a half an acre property in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka  in January 2014.

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts President and CEO Jean Gabriel Peres has recently visited the country to sign the management agreement with Softlogic Holdings to build the 200-room five-star property in Kollupitiya area of Colombo.

Mövenpick Hotel Colombo – being designed with sustainable build and operating requirements – will feature contemporary architecture and room sizes vary from 36sqm for standard rooms up to 70sqm for a suite.

Alongside one speciality restaurant will be an all-day dining venue, rooftop bar and nightclub, and guests will be able to unwind in the fitness centre, spa and pool and receive 24-hour room service, while executives will be able to avail of the Boardroom and Business Centre.

“With the growing business traveller in mind as well as holiday guests, Mövenpick Colombo will be cozy, warm, exquisite, premium quality, and an upscale five-star hotel,” Peres has told the Daily FT in an exclusive interview.

The executive said that Sri Lanka tourism has the potential to be successful as Thailand is today as hospitality is natural for Sri Lankans.

“Sri Lanka’s natural hospitality and warmth is legendary. Sri Lanka is a gorgeous country. Following the end of the conflict Sri Lanka has great potential for the future,” Peres has said.

The hotelier has noted the cleanliness of the capital city and has said that the country has vastly improved.

Peres has said that he was impressed with the quality of new hotels and the entry of several new brands in Colombo and encouraged by the support infrastructure as well as real estate.

The global brand is also looking for opportunities to manage a beach resort to complement and expand its offering in Sri Lanka.

Coral Rock by Amaya

Location of Coral Rock by Amaya
Coral Rock by Amaya is located at 100km south of Colombo at the beach resort town of Hikkaduwa of the south-western coastal belt. Further 15km down south is located the UNESCO World heritage site of VOC Galle Dutch Fort.

Setting of Coral Rock by Amaya
Beachfront: in a narrow strip of land with Indian Ocean to the west and Colombo – Galle A2 coastal road on one side and the sea on the other.

Sri Lanka Holidays Sustainable tourism (Green i.e., eco) credentials of Coral Rock by Amaya: to be edited
Type of hotel & star rating of Coral Rock by Amaya: a four-star luxury boutique resort

Architecture and Interior Décor of Coral Rock by Amaya:
Coral Rock by Amaya, a luxury boutique resort features antique detailing and modern amenities.

Accomodation at Coral Rock by Amaya
Coral Rock by Amaya consists of 32 air-conditioned rooms with most of those bringing in sea-views. En-suite bathrooms are equipped with hot and cold water head showers.
Superior Rooms: The 14 Superior Rooms brings in the tropical greenery of the land side. Four of the Superior Rooms with interconnecting rooms are ideal for families.
Deluxe Rooms: 14 rooms have private balconies with sea views. Two rooms built on the ground floor have private terraces overlooking the beach.
Super Deluxe Rooms: two spacious Super Deluxe Rooms with sea views suit well for families.

Restaurants and bars at Coral Rock by Amaya
The main restaurant that accommodates 75 guests. The Master Chef well supported by a culinary team serves international cuisine as well as local cuisine.
Lobby bar: a range of alcoholic beverages are available at the lobby bar.

In-room facilities at Coral Rock by Amaya
Entertainment: 32 inch flat screen TVs with satellite channels, wi-fi internet, tea/coffee facility, mini-bar, safe,
Bed and bath: Extra bed, baby crib, extra blankets and towels on request
Internet facilities: Wi-Fi Internet Access
Amenities: tea/coffee facility, mini-bar, safe
Services: room service, 24 hour laundry service, daily housekeeping

Leisure and recreation at Coral Rock by Amaya
Full length swimming pool
Surfing, diving and deep sea fishing
Boat rides in a glass bottom boat to enjoy to sight of corals
Swimming in the sea right in front of the hotel isn’t advised in view of the coral reef. However, beginning with a short stroll on the beach from the hotel, there unravels a long stretches of fine beaches for safe swimming.

Excursions off Coral Rock by Amaya
Hikkaduwa beach: water sports including surfing, windsurfing, diving oncoral reef.
Bentota beach, lagoon and river: boat safari in the river Bentara ganga and jet skiing, waterskiing in Bentota lagoon
Kosgoda beach: Kosgoda Marine Turtle Conservation Project
Galle sea port: 17th century VOC Galle Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site, the main Sri Lanka Holidays colonial attraction.

Two main forms of Black tea in consumption
High quality loose leaf Black tea packed in metal containers comes in two forms: pure teas & blended teas. Paper sachets of Black tea, popularly called tea bags (one bag for cup) packed in light cardboard cartons aren’t for those who love high quality Black tea.

Ceylon Tea Plantations in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Blended Black tea
Blended Black tea is precisely what the name carries with it: a blend of Black teas grown & manufactured in different areas of the world. Low quality Kenyan Black tea is often blended with Ceylon tea, the finest tea in the world. If you go for high quality stuff in life, such blends aren’t what you would enjoy.
Then again there are high quality blended Black teas marketed by the blenders by blending Black teas from Sri Lanka (Ceylon tea-finest tea in the world) & Assam of India. Assam of India produces high quality Black tea too. You would definitely go for the blend of Ceylon tea & Assam tea if you like superior stuff.

Ceylon Tea Plantations in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

Pure Black tea
Pure Black tea is plucked in the same country. Then again, you could have a tin container of Pure Ceylon tea with its metal printed label indicating it’s a blend. Very true, that’s definitely a blend, but with the unmistakable Lion logo of Ceylon tea, there’s no need for you to get upset. You have just bought a blend of Ceylon teas grown and manufactured in different parts of the island of Sri Lanka exclusively. You are someone who would go for nothing less than The Real McCoy.
Blended Ceylon tea brings off the best in the distinctive flavors & aromas of all the teas involved in the blend. The concept would a ring a bell: Blended Scotch Whisky.

Formerly a Ceylon Tea Factory at Nuwara Eliya, now a Sri Lanka Holidays Luxury Tourist Hotel.

Black tea branding by the region of origin
Flavor, aroma & quality of Black teas, as in the case of wine, vary on the climatic & geographic conditions of the area of cultivation. Pure Ceylon teas grown & manufactured at different elevations in the beautiful tropical island of Sri Lanka are called after the area: Nuwara Eliya (2000 meters above sea level), a Sri Lanka Holidays tourist destination, Dimbula (1200-1700m), Uva (1000-1700m), Uda Pussellawa (1200m), Sri Lanka Holidays attraction of Kandy (650-1300 m), Ruhuna (sea level to 600m) each have its own distinctive taste & aroma.
Among the varieties of Black tea from all tea producing countries, quality & popularity of Ceylon tea from Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka is akin to the standing of Champagne among wine.
High quality Black teas are grown & manufactured in Indian provinces of Darjeeling, Assam, and Nilgiri too are known by their respective provinces of cultivation & manufacture.

High Grown Ceylon tea, Medium Grown Ceylon tea & Low Grown Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s tea plantations are mainly located in the Central Highlands of the island stretching from Kandy of Mediterranean climate to Nuwara Eliya of salubrious climate. Black tea is grown in Ruhuna of Sri Lanka too. Dimbula, Uva, Nuwara Eliya & Uda Pussellawa of higher altitude produce High Grown Ceylon teas of Sri Lanka. While Black tea produced in Kandy [a Sri Lanka Holidays Tourist Attraction] is called Middle Grown Ceylon tea, Black tea produced in Ruhuna is called Low Grown Ceylon tea.

Ceylon Tea Plantation, Central Highlands, Sri Lanka

Ceylon tea: Black tea to suit every pallet
Sri Lanka’s production of varieties of Black teas to go with every pallet has been the hallmark of Ceylon tea, the Black tea industry of Sri Lanka. Dimbula & Nuwara Eliya teas are sought after by blenders from all over the world; Uva Black teas too are used for high quality blends mainly in West Germany & Japan; medium grown Ceylon tea is popular in Europe, Australia, Japan & North America; low grown Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka is popular in Western Asia & Middle Eastern countries.

Black tea from India
The main areas of Black tea cultivation in India are Darjeeling, Assam & Nilgiri. Black teas produced in these areas vary with one another in terms of aroma & flavor. In India Black tea is also grown in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Orissa, Bihar, Nagaland, Mizoram & Meghalaya Tripura, Manipur Dooars and Terai of West Bengal.

Tea gradings By the processing method
The main products of evergreen tea plant (Camellia sinensis) are fermented (black tea), producing an amber-colored, full-flavored beverage without bitterness; semi-fermented (oolong), a slightly bitter, light brownish-green beverage; and unfermented (green tea) a mild, slightly bitter, pale greenish-yellow beverage.

Black tea gradings by the size of leaf processed by orthodox method as well as CTC (crush, tear & curl) method
Teas are also classified by the size of the processed leaf. Orthodox manufacturing method as well as CTC manufacturing method produces larger leafy grades and smaller broken grades. These grading terms are usually used for teas from Sri Lanka & India. The system is based solely upon the size of the processed and dried black tea leaves. The size of the processed Black tea leaves is determined by the means of sifting teas on wire meshes.

Orange Pekoe (O.P) is the main grade in tea production. Orange Pekoe consists of long wiry leaf with tips (buds). The High Grown Orange Pekoe consists of long, thin & wiry leaves containing tip or bud.
Broken Orange Pekoe (B.O.P) with superior color & flavor consists of smaller leaf & tip.
Pekoe Fannings which are smaller than B.O.P. brew quickly & give a liquor of good color when the beverage is prepared.
Dust, the black tea with smallest particles is very useful for quick brewing. The liquor produced by the Dust gives strength as well as color.

Tea & emergence of Samurai
The gradual emergence of a new warrior class “Samurai” (8th-19th century) indoctrinated in the concepts of absolute commitment of loyalty unto death to their lords, single minded discipline & superior physical courage bordering madness put forth by the newly emerging ideology of “Bushido” began to shatter the social fabric & imperial reign of Japan during the 11th and 12th centuries. With the deep seated belief that the increasing turmoil in Japan could be calmed by a spiritual renewal (as we believe today, that the end to violence borne of ignorance could be achieved by means of education & rehabilitation), Japanese Buddhist priest Myoan Eisai (1141- 1215) spent his life promoting Zen Buddhism and the secular use of tea as a Buddhist ritual, as well as an elixir capable of curing many ills and even extending life. Many Buddhist monks closed ranks with Eisai in a crusade to bring the spirit of Zen Buddhism and the virtues of tea to the masses.

Tea, a medium of spiritual enlightenment
Eisai’s unflagging devotion to studying the virtues & merits of tea led him to inscribe the first treatise on tea in Japan, a two-volume treatise entitled Kissa Yojo Ki (Preservation of Health Through Drinking Tea) in the year 1211. His outstanding promotion of the ritualistic preparation of tea was essentially the genesis of Cha-no-yu in Japan.
Eisai’s propagation of tea was to meet with glorious success. It even produced a result that wasn’t originally intended: his followers began to view the habit of consuming tea as an alternative means of spiritual enlightenment. It would, however, be another two centuries before an official Japanese Tea Ceremonywould be formalized with a deep sense of aesthetics & the concept of humility imbued therein.

Zen & Samurai
With the spread of traditions, the reverence towards the Buddhist monks, the pioneers of traditions, by the populace begun to grow in leaps & bounds. As in china, the Japanese feudal lords were to become restless over the sphere of influence Buddhist Temples had over the populace. Eventually the Samurai were ordered to put the Buddhist temples to fire & sword. Ironically, the raging flames of insane violence made Buddhist monks even more influential.

Caffeine & Tannin in Tea
The beverage of Tea has the quality of being refreshing & calming at once. Once the boiling water is poured into tea leaves, for the first couple of minutes, the caffeine is drawn out; in the very next minute Tanin is drawn out. The unique combination of the two chemical compounds accounts for the quality of the beverage of tea.

Ceylon Tea Plantation, Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

The Samurai encounter Buddhist monks
The Samurai, the fierce warriors in calamitous era, honor bound to hold their lives subservient to the unwavering loyalty towards their feudal lords had assumed the Zen Buddhist monks would run for their lives at the first sight of blood. But then the Buddhist monks indoctrinated in the impermanence of all worldly matters couldn’t be ruffled from their serenity even in the face of mindless violence. The Samurai, who had been simmering with violence at all times, who had thought of the ordinary populace & monks as living testimony to cowardice, were taken aback to witness that there were means other than violence which would make one infused with indomitable courage.
Some of the Buddhist monks continued to meditate even as their temples were raging with fire & their fellow monks were put to sword. Such was the lasting impression of the phenomenon made on the Samurai, who aspired to be on par with the nobility & imperial court of Japan in terms of literary skills & intellectual faculties during the 11th & 12th centuries, took to Zen Buddhism with great fervor.

During the 13th century, upper class Samurai were already highly literate as a result of introduction of Confucianism from China during the 7th to 9th centuries. The practice of Zen Buddhism by Samurai resulted in them overcoming the fear of death & tendency towards killing at a mere whim. The 13th century also saw the formalization of Bushido, the Japanese code of conduct of Samurai warriors. In time the Samurai were to become an outstanding community among the most zealous disciples of Zen and tea.

The Samuari takes to Zen & tea
The Samurai found Zen as well as tea served a purpose in their very existence, which could be cut short at any moment in the battle if not at a mere whim of their feudal lord. Feudal lords of Japan called Shoguns developed a practice of gifting special jars of tea to Samurai for exceptional display of valor in the battlefield so that they could invite his kith & kin to a tea ceremony celebrating the occasion.

Tea ceremony begins to take shape
In time the tea drinking habit of Zen Buddhist monks was to create an extension into the wider, secular culture of Japan in the form of tea rituals. The initial incursion of tea habits into aristocratic circles of Japan resulted in evolving the order, art and simplicity in Japanese tea ceremony encapsulating the four principals of Japanese code of ethics: harmony with people & nature; respect for others; spiritual purity & tranquility.
With aesthetics of tea ceremony on ascendance, the ritual was formalized by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa in the 15th century. An everyday activity was brought up to a level of awareness that would detach all from the militarized feudal system albeit for a limited duration of the tea ceremony. Guests sat in serenity & took their own sweet time to taste & enjoy their tea in the calm atmosphere devoid of chatter & babble.
Within the confines of the tea house, all guests were put on an equal footing: nobody carried arms. Social status & military statues of the guests seized to exist: the peasant was held in the same esteem that the emperor was held. Tea ceremony was a far cry from then existing feudal system, a far cry from today’s calamitous modern world.

The logo of Pure Ceylon Tea, the Finest Black Tea in the World

The Finest Black Tea in the World: Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka
The Finest Black Tea in the World, since the British Colonial era has come from the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka. Originally grown by the Scotsman James Taylor and in good time marketed by the Irishman Thomas Lipton, Black Tea of Sri Lanka came to be known as Ceylon Tea, after the British colonial name of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Tea is grown mainly in the Central Highlands, the one and only mountain mass of the tropical island. The southern district of Galle, the district of Badulla and the district of Ratnapura too produce a considerable volume of Black Tea. Of all the tea growing zones of Si Lanka, Sri Lanka Holidays health sanatorium of Nuwara Eliya [the modern city, 1800 meters above the sea-level was founded By Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile] of Central Province produces the finest of the High Grown Ceylon Tea of  Sri Lanka.

Of all the Black Tea growing zones of Sri Lanka, the Central Province encompassing the Central Highlands i.e. the districts of Kandy [altitude: 500 meters] and Nuwara Eliya [altitude: 1800 meters] are largely instrumental in making Sri Lanka one of top three Black Tea exporters of the world year after year since the British Colonial era of the island.