It’s true that Ceylon Tea hasn’t got a long history as Chinese tea. Tea was first grown commercially in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) by the Scottish planter James Taylor in 1867. Eventually Ceylon Tea became one of the finest tasting teas in the world thanks to her overall, well balanced tasting profile with ideal strength, body, aroma and flavour. During this short history, Asia’s Sweetheart (Sri Lanka) had the honour of having highly skilled plantation workers, specially tea pluckers. They are the unsung heroes who really contributed for the betterment of “Pure Ceylon Tea”. Among them ‘Daivani’ is the oldest and the most senior Ceylon tea plucker (By May 2018) who engaged in tea plucking operation for almost 97 years ! (Might be The Oldest In The World)

This veteran lady was born in India on 15th November 1915 (as she vaguely remembers) and sent to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) by the British to work on Ceylon tea plantations. She worked in Spring Valley Estate, Badulla, Uva Tea Growing region and still lives there to this day.

Daivani said “I was born in a village called “Keeramangalam’’. I left India with my parents at the age of 4. They have since returned. I recall that we stayed in a couple of places for about 2-3 years. After that, we moved from estate to estate.

“ When I was the age of 8, I was registered in the ‘’Koonapalei’’ and sent to harvest tea on the estate with a basket hanging on my back. I could not manage by myself as I was too little, so my elder sisters had to help me. They are the ones who measured the weight of the tea leaves I plucked, before I grew accustomed to it”

But now No Child Labour is Employed at Ceylon Tea Plantations !

She added further “Those days if we did not pluck enough leaves, the kangani (Leader of that field) would beat our palm. Still, we would continue to pluck while weeping. Sometimes, we were not even tall enough to pluck the tea leaves, but we had to manage”.

That is how it was in colonial tea plantations. But in modern era, such kind of cruelty is hardly seen & it’s strictly prohibited.

This is another reveal of an unsung Ceylon Tea Hero ! How many international buyers would love to find & visit her ? While recognizing Ceylon Tea legends like James Taylor, Meryll J Fernando (Founder of Dilmah) etc, a fair attention must be given to people at ground level as well.

Read About Best Tea Pluckers in Sri Lanka: https://www.teawithnipun.com/2019/11/16/meet-ceylons-best-tea-pluckers-no-1-2-3/

View More Tea Articles + Latest News: https://www.teawithnipun.com/

References

1. Original Post: http://unframedsl.org/story-of-daivani-the-oldest-tea-plucker/
2. More About Ceylon Tea: https://www.pureceylontea.com/