Kenya Convenes National Tea Summit | The World Awaits the Hottest Days On Record

HEAR THE HEADLINES – Kenyan Convenes National Tea Summit | Kenya Deputy President Promises Action on Lagging Tea Act Reforms | The World Awaits the Hottest Days On Record | Author Horacio Bustos Announces an English Edition of El Té Gourmet Argentino

| IN MEMORIAM – David C. Bigelow, former president and CEO of Bigelow Tea

| GUEST – Sivanathan Selliah, retired plant manager, now a tour guide at Helpewatte Tea Factory, Uva Province, Sri Lanka

| FEATURE INTRO – Sri Lanka is among the most popular tourist destinations. Tea lovers find that the island nation offers hundreds of options, from quaint tea gardens, homestays, and bungalows to tea trails, landmarks, waterfalls, caves, and historic sites. In May, Tea Biz toured the Halpewatte Tea Factory and then visited Ella to see the Ravana Pool Club, the country’s first day-use retreat for the adventurous and those who want to sit and sip tea in the scenic splendor of the central mountains.

Tea Factory Tour and a Splendid Day at the Ravana Pool Club – Our day began with a visit to the Halpewatte Tea Factory, about six kilometers from Ella. The five-story factory is perched at 4,035 feet altitude (1,230 meters) in what is known as Hill Country. Halpe was built in 1940 and is the largest tea factory and plantation in Uva Province. The impressive structure is rated among the country’s best garden and factory tours. Admission is $5.Sivanathan Selliah, a retired administrative officer in the tea plantation sector, leads tours of the factory. He has worked in tea for 50 years.

Next, we traveled to Ravana, a spacious Balinese-inspired bamboo complex of public and private swimming pools, a heated jacuzzi, a restaurant and bar, and a dance floor with a DJ. There are boutiques to shop, trails through the garden, archery, an air rifle range, all-terrain vehicles, mountain bikes to rent, abseiling rock climbing in the cliffs, and a mega half-kilometer zipline to spike your adrenaline. The resort offers a splendid view of Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock, an impressive monolith across the valley. Operated by 98 Acres, the resort is a 2.5-kilometer taxi ride from Ella, a town of 50,000 located 130 miles south and east of Colombo, a five-hour drive. Take the nine-hour daily express train cross country for spectacular views or the Night Mail that departs Colombo at 8 pm and arrives at 6 am.

Then, we traveled to Ravana, a spacious Balinese-inspired bamboo complex of public and private swimming pools, a heated jacuzzi, a restaurant and bar, and a dance floor with a DJ. There are boutiques to shop, trails through the garden, archery, an air rifle range, all-terrain vehicles, mountain bikes to rent, abseiling rock climbing in the cliffs, and a mega half-kilometer zipline to spike your adrenaline.

The resort offers a splendid view of Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock, an impressive monolith across the valley. Operated by 98 Acres, the resort is a 2.5-kilometer taxi ride from Ella, a town of 50,000 located 130 miles south and east of Colombo, a five-hour drive. Take the nine-hour daily express train cross country for spectacular views or the Night Mail that departs Colombo at 8 pm and arrives at 6 am.

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