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. In a time when the whole world is fighting against COVID 19 Virus fever, The Colombo Tea Auction, the world’s largest single-origin tea auction and the oldest operational auction, conducted its first successful e-auction. According to Sri Lanka Tea Board “CEYLON BLACK TEA’ RICH IN “THEAFLAVINS” CONDUCTS ITS VERY FIRST SUCCESSFUL E-AUCTION”

The first Tea Auction in Colombo was held on 30th July 1883 in the office of Somerville & Co., down Queen Street now renamed Janadhipathi Mawatha. This e-auction held for five days was prompted by COVID 19 ‘Social distancing’ stringent health precautions adopted by the Island. The very successful auction via an online platform was concluded on a promising note in Colombo for its ‘high grown’ Teas, while registering as the highest ever in its history. This higher demand was also due to lower volumes. Manual auction was also not held for almost two weeks. So local buyers badly needed to cover their quantities. International buyers were also desperate to buy Ceylon Tea since they are struggling to import Black Tea from India. Overseas tea importers also stated that their communities have started to drink more tea while staying at home.

It is a great pleasure to see the trickle-down effect spanning the entire supply chain. The e-auction has created ‘hope’, especially for the Tea farmers who depend on their daily wages. Regional Plantation Companies and smallholders are able to conduct business and provide work despite the current circumstance. Crops are being harvested without compromise on quality and factories are functional strictly following the stringent precautionary measures stipulated by national health authorities. 

This has let Ceylon Tea exporters to commence shipments with available resources and work hard to meet the increasing demand for Pure Ceylon Tea.

Another main factors for such high demand could be attributed to the hypothesis developed by scientists that content of “Theaflavins” in black tea ‘could potentially inhibit a critical SARS-CoV- 2 enzyme, and thereby, theoretically increase the human immunity against COVID-19, tea industry sources claimed.

Read More: https://www.teawithnipun.com/news/black-tea-theaflavins-may-inhibit-corona-virus/

The Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI) has conducted a study where “Theaflavins” an antioxidant polyphenols in Black Tea has been found to helpcontrol and flush the Virus from the system.

In contrast to Green Tea, Black Tea which is rich in Theaflavins (antioxidant polyphenols that are formed during fermentation of Black Tea). It also alleviates respiratory diseases and opens air passages in the lungs making it easier to breathe.

The Tea Industry has shown its ability to deal with challenges during periods of global crises and has never let down its discerning customers nor the hands that supports the industry itself.

Learn More About The History of Colombo Tea Auction: http://teasrilanka.org/tea-auction

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

References

1. Sri Lanka Tea Board: http://www.srilankateaboard.lk/index.php/component/k2/item/214-resilient-ceylon-tea-is-ready-to-cater-to-the-world
2. Sri Lanka Tea Board: http://www.srilankateaboard.lk/index.php/component/k2/item/213-ceylon-black-tea-rich-in-theaflavins-conducts-its-very-first-successful-e-auction
3. Sri Lanka Tea Board Promotion Web: https://www.pureceylontea.com/