Melfort and Sanquhar Green Tea add another feather on the cap

Tuesday, 21 April 2015 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Silver and Merit awards were presented to Melfort and Sanquhar Green Teas respectively at the recently-concluded ‘Specialty Tea Contest’ held in Gulfood, Dubai. “This is not the first time these two plants have received awards from international competitions. Earlier, too we won awards for ‘Best Green Teas’ in the USA and Russia,” said Tiran Peiris, Deputy Managing Director and CEO of Melfort Green Teas and Consultant, Pussellawa Plantations.

Melfort and Sanquhar Green Tea plants produce a wide range of specialty teas viz Roasted Green Tea, CTC Green Tea, Oolong Tea (semi fermented tea) and Red Tea with natural anthocyanin, to name a few. The newest product is ‘Tencha,’ which has been invented and is awaiting patent rights. Peiris believes ‘specialty teas’ is the way forward to sustain the local tea industry. Currently a green tea-based sugar-free energy drink is also being

developed. Melfort Green Teas is in the medicinally-proven health beverage industry. Its plant is located in Pussellawa Valley in the Central Hills in Sri Lanka. The altitude is around 3,000 feet above sea level. The plant was established in 2004. Selective green leaf is a distinct advantage to maintain the ‘finest quality’ and freshness at highest level. Therefore, Melfort is the ‘market leader’ for green tea in Sri Lanka. Production capacity is ranging from 350 metric tons to 550 metric tons per annum and a range of products are on offer including ‘specialty green tea’. Sanquhar, which consists of 209 acres of tea plantation, is nestled amongst picturesque mountains and cascading waterfalls in the Central Hill Capital of Kandy. With an average temperature constantly between 25C-30C and an annual rainfall of 2,000 mm, Sanquhar is able to deliver a supreme batch of green tea at the end of each process, accumulating to 400 to 500 metric tons per annum. As the only ‘steam’ green tea plant in the country, Sanquhar is currently in the process of obtaining ISO 22000 and HACCP accreditations.