1st quarter concludes with record-breaking sales

The following estates achieved all time record prices at the weekly tea auctions held on 29 March.These all time high prices were achieved by M/s., Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers Ltd.

Ragalla achieved an all time record price of Rs. 710 per kg for a BOP grade in the Uva/Udapussellawa elevational category. This invoice was purchased by M/s. United Teas Ltd.

Ragalla Estate is situated in Halgranoya on the eastern slopes of Nuwara Eliya Halgranoya in the the Udapussellawa planting district at an elevation of 1,676 metres above sea level. An interesting fact about Ragalla is that it was famous for roses and in 1954 when Queen Elizabeth II visited Ceylon, the roses for the bouquet presented to her were from the Ragalla Estate manager’s bungalow garden!

Ragalla Tea Factory has a production capacity of a million kilos of made tea per annum and comes under the purview of Maturata Plantations PLC. This estate is managed by Tharindu Wickramasinghe, Senior Group Manager. 

Delmar Estate achieved another all time record price for the second consecutive week. A Pekoe – 1 grade fetched a record price of Rs. 720 per kg in the Uva/ Udapussellawa elevational category. This invoice was purchased by M/s. Mabroc Teas Ltd.

Delmar Estate is situated in Halgranoya adjoining Ragalla, at an elevation of 1,524 metres above sea level and is said to have originally been planted by Baron Von Delmar a German during the early days of the coffee expansion.

This factory currently is certified under ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 22000:2005 Management System Certified for Manufacture of Black Tea Food Sector. This estate is managed by Sudath Liyanage and comes under the purview of Udapusselawa Plantations PLC. 

 

Pedro Estate in Nuwara Eliya too achieved an all time record price of Rs. 730 per kg under the selling mark ‘Mahagastotte’ for a BOPF grade, in the Nuwara Eliya agro climatic plating district. 

This line of tea was purchased by M/s., Ceylon Black Teas Ltd. Pedro estate is situated in the Nuwara Eliya planting district and the factory at an elevation of 1,750 metres above sea level. Mahagastotte was one of the first estates in Nuwara Eliya to plant tea on a commercial scale, and is currently certified under Rainforest Alliance, ISO22000:2005, HACCP, Ethical Tea Partnership and UTZ Code of Conduct for Tea. This estate is managed by Anura Senanayake, Deputy General Manager, and comes under the purview of Kelani Valley Plantation PLC.

Rothschild Estate achieved an all time record price of Rs. 630 per kg for a BP1 grade in the western medium CTC category. This line of tea was purchased by M/s., Zenra Teas Ltd. Rothschild Estate is situated in Pussellawa at an elevation of 975 metres above sea level. Rothschild estate was first opened by the De Worm Brothers during 1835 to 1843, and had connections with the famed banking house of Rothschild hence the reason to name their first estate in Sri Lanka. 

Rothschild is now a HACCP certified facility with an annual production capacity of over a million kilos of made tea per annum. This estate is managed by Isuru Jayaruk and comes under the purview of Pussellawa Plantations PLC.

 

Dunsinane Estate has the distinction of achieving two all time record prices of Rs. 640 per kg for a BP1 grade and Rs. 620 for a BPS grade in the western High grown CTC category this week. These lines of tea were purchased by M/s., Nature Fresh teas Ltd. and M/s., James Finlays Ceylon Ltd. respectively. Dunsinane is situated at an elevation of 1,400 metres above sea level at the Pundaluoya Valley in the Dimbula planting district. George Smyttan Duff is credited to have opened this estate for coffee planting in the 1840s; incidentally he was also a shareholder of Oriental Bank which crashed with the coffee industry.

Dunsinane now is an ISO 22000:2005 and Rainforest alliance certified facility with an annual production capacity of over a million kilos of made tea per annum. This estate is managed by Asela Udumulla and comes under the purview of Elpitiya Plantations PLC.

Court Lodge Estate achieved an all-time record price of Rs. 690 for a BP grade in the Uva High Grown category. This line of tea was purchased by M/s Mabroc teas. The estate is situated in Nuwara Eliya region at an elevation ranging from 5,000 to 6,500 feet in close to proximity to Kandapola town. It has the benefit of having both quality seasons, when the South West monsoon blows, the moisture is deposited on the West of the central hills and strong desiccating winds blow over the estate during June to September. 

When the North East monsoon starts, the wind directions are reversed, but a similar change takes place, which helps to produce some excellent teas during February to April. The garden mark is currently certified under Rainforest Alliance, ISO22000:205, Ethical Tea Partnership and UTZ code of Conduct for Tea. This estate is managed by Thamal Manamperi, Manger, and comes under the purview of Uda Pusselawa Plantations PLC.