Moray Tea Estate celebrates 100 years of tea production

Monday, 16 January 2023 01:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Moray Estate covers an expansive extent of 682.35 hectares of prime agricultural land of which 340.76 hectares is planted with high quality tea.

The estate is uniquely and picturesquely located in the agro climatic district of Maskeliya in the Western Highlands famed for the high quality of its teas that is evident throughout most months of the year and particularly in the seasonal period December to April when ideal weather conditions conducive for the production of the best seasonal quality teas prevail.

Moray Estate and its factory was established in the year 1922, 100 years ago, with a commanding view overlooking the Mousakellie Reservoir. The first Superintendent of the estate was J.B. Wilson and this estate was originally owned by the Uplands Tea Estates Company and managed by M/s. Whittals Boustead Ltd., of Colombo.

The estate is currently managed by Maskeliya Plantations PLC and owned by the Richard Peiris Group of Companies.

The estate presently comes under stewardship of young planter Harsha Galahetiyawa, and Eastern Brokers Ltd. are the brokers handling the marketing and sale of Moray teas which are sold by them mainly through the Weekly Public Tea Auctions and occasionally by Private Treaty.

The estate currently has an annual production capacity of between 650,000 to 700,000 kg of made tea per annum of the best Western High Grown black teas of traditional orthodox manufacture.

A unique and distinctive characteristic of Moray teas is its delicate quality and liquors of an attractive rosy hue that is greatly sought after by the discerning tea traders. The estate is ISO22000 Certified and Rainforest Alliance Compliant.