Tea-biscuit combo as Ceylon Tea celebrates 150 years
The Taylor bust at the Tea Board Office
It’s a combo of biscuits and tea that would serve to commemorate 150 years since James Taylor pioneered the taste of Ceylon Tea, renowned the world over. Celebratory biscuits manufactured by Maliban to the taste of Earl Grey tea and ginger will keep alive the traditions of tea drinking.
On Thursday, Maliban’s unique tea-flavoured biscuit was served to kick off the celebrations of this year’s series of events in addition to other local foods leading up to a global tea party in Sri Lankan missions around the world in July.
The celebrations at the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) began with the unveiling of the bust of Scotsman Taylor who started work in then Ceylon at the age of 17 in 1852 and later took charge of the coffee plantation of Loolecondera that was converted to tea.
SLTB Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda explained the arrival of Taylor as being akin to seeking refuge here from Scotland that was at the time facing starvation and other issues.
British High Commission’s Political Head Daniel Peter, representing the high commissioner, commended Ceylon Tea and described how tea was brought to the UK and spoke of the links with their former colony Sri Lanka.
Plantations Minister Navin Dissanayake announced plans to sustain the industry which is today hit by a drop in production despite prices having picked up. He called for all stakeholders in the tea industry to work together and noted that the US$50 million marketing campaign would be properly utilized.
In addition, the minister explained that the glyphosate ban on commercial agriculture was being studied by a committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Colombo Tea Traders Association Chairman Anslem Perera addressing the gathering remembered the 28 planters who rendered yeomen service during the JVP insurrection and also commended veteran planters and other officials involved in taking the plantation industry forward.
The ceremony kicked off with religious observances by Buddhist, Christian and Islam priests following which there was the unveiling of the bust and a plaque with a description of James Taylor.
The ceremony concluded with a new website that can be accessed on the SLTB (http://www.150years.pureceylontea.com/) site being launched by the minister highlighting the story behind the tea industry in the country; events planned out and news and other information.