In Sri Lanka, tea is the national drink. Well it has to be! Every day almost every nationality in the world will sip a liquid that was made from leaves grown here in the mysterious hills of Sri Lanka. I made the trip to the valleys and hills at Haputale in Sri Lanka to the impressive Dambatenne Tea Factory, opened by Thomas Lipton over 100 years ago. It is currently a source of tea for Scottish based company Lipton Tea amongst other worldwide tea companies and distributors. All the tea is grown locally here in the gorgeous mountains and valleys of Sri Lanka's inland region.[]
The Haputale valleys and Dambatenne Tea Factory are in the middle of nowhere! It's a hard place to get too but if you love tea then you need to find a way to get here!
How to get to Dambatenne Tea Factory
To be honest it's not easy. There are no trains or direct buses up in this hilly region but what you will need will be to hire a car or a driver. A local driver knows the roads and will ensure you get there without incident. It could be easy to get lost in this part of Sri Lanka. So basically hire a local driver to take you! []
How much does visiting Dambatenne Tea Factory cost?
It's a simple 250 Rupees fee payable at the door and in cash only. There might be a slight delay to wait until one of the workers is available to show you around but it will be worth it - this place is off the beaten track!
How long does the tour of Dambatenne Tea Factory take?
The tour is basically split into 3 parts and takes roughly 25 minutes:
1. Visiting the upstairs rooms where the tea leaves are brought into the building and they are placed into the massive circular machines before going through the refining process.
2. Next you visit a massive downstairs room where the tea is refined in different stages before it is finally heated.
3. Finally the tea is heated, later cooled and put into large bags ready to be shipped worldwide!
Photos are banned inside for parts 2 and 3 of the tour which is fair enough as it's their secret factory and the staff are also busy working. In terms of opening times for the tour, then it's probably 9 - 5 but just make sure you check before you head there!
What else is the tour about?
The tour is short and once it's over that's you done! Yes really there is no restaurant, cafe or tea room to even have a sample of the Sri Lankan tea. Your only consolation will be being able to buy a packet of Dambatenne tea direct from the factory in a small box.
The packet of tea cost 300 Rupees and that's the Dambatenne stuff. However the better tea called Simondou costs a whopping 1,100 Rupees! You can also buy them in the nearby towns of course.
What else is there to do nearby?
It's such a mountainous region so there are four other things to do which is best done with a driver:
1. Savour the mountain views
2. Stroll along the hills of tea plantations
3. Stop at a cafe for a cup of tea with a view
4. Visit the actual town of Haputale (there are hotels, markets, shops and even an ATM there!)
There you have it - the tour is short and over quickly but is worth a trip and provides you with great travel memories.
I'm heading to get a cup of tea...a lifestyle of travel!
The Haputale valleys and Dambatenne Tea Factory are in the middle of nowhere! It's a hard place to get too but if you love tea then you need to find a way to get here!
How to get to Dambatenne Tea Factory
To be honest it's not easy. There are no trains or direct buses up in this hilly region but what you will need will be to hire a car or a driver. A local driver knows the roads and will ensure you get there without incident. It could be easy to get lost in this part of Sri Lanka. So basically hire a local driver to take you! []
How much does visiting Dambatenne Tea Factory cost?
It's a simple 250 Rupees fee payable at the door and in cash only. There might be a slight delay to wait until one of the workers is available to show you around but it will be worth it - this place is off the beaten track!
How long does the tour of Dambatenne Tea Factory take?
The tour is basically split into 3 parts and takes roughly 25 minutes:
1. Visiting the upstairs rooms where the tea leaves are brought into the building and they are placed into the massive circular machines before going through the refining process.
2. Next you visit a massive downstairs room where the tea is refined in different stages before it is finally heated.
3. Finally the tea is heated, later cooled and put into large bags ready to be shipped worldwide!
Photos are banned inside for parts 2 and 3 of the tour which is fair enough as it's their secret factory and the staff are also busy working. In terms of opening times for the tour, then it's probably 9 - 5 but just make sure you check before you head there!
What else is the tour about?
The tour is short and once it's over that's you done! Yes really there is no restaurant, cafe or tea room to even have a sample of the Sri Lankan tea. Your only consolation will be being able to buy a packet of Dambatenne tea direct from the factory in a small box.
The packet of tea cost 300 Rupees and that's the Dambatenne stuff. However the better tea called Simondou costs a whopping 1,100 Rupees! You can also buy them in the nearby towns of course.
What else is there to do nearby?
It's such a mountainous region so there are four other things to do which is best done with a driver:
1. Savour the mountain views
2. Stroll along the hills of tea plantations
3. Stop at a cafe for a cup of tea with a view
4. Visit the actual town of Haputale (there are hotels, markets, shops and even an ATM there!)
There you have it - the tour is short and over quickly but is worth a trip and provides you with great travel memories.
I'm heading to get a cup of tea...a lifestyle of travel!
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