#tea estates

Tea

Tea Pluckers

One of the things most commonly associated with Sri Lanka is its tea. Over 1 million Sri Lankans are employed by the tea industry, with tea pluckers performing arguably one of the most important parts of the process.

The vast majority of tea pluckers are Tamil, descended from Indians brought to Sri Lanka by British colonisers in the 1800s.

Most tea pluckers are women, who often pass on their work to their daughters. These families live on the tea estates, in rows of small barracks-style houses referred to as ‘lines’. Tea estates tend to be located in the central highlands, such as Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, where the humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall favour the production of high-quality tea. 

Tea bushes on these estates are found on mountain slopes, planted in neat rows. Tea buds must be picked every 7-14 days, and tea pluckers often work in different parts of the estate every day. Tea leaves are gathered in tarpaulin bags or wicker baskets. 

Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth-largest producer of tea, with the industry accounting for 2% of the country’s GDP. However, more than that, tea is a major part of the culture of the country. Tea is used to welcome people to your home, as a form of relaxation after long day, and as such, is a staple in the routines of most Sri Lankans.