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Kaley Tea
Artisan Tea Collection
Bringing Biodiversity to Tea Farming: Kaley Tea's Sustainable Approach
Discover the Artisanal and Sustainable Approach to Tea Farming in Sri Lanka
Kaley Tea is a tea farm in Sri Lanka that stands out for its unique approach to tea farming. Instead of clearing the forest to cultivate tea, as is traditionally done, Kaley Tea is bringing the forest into its cultivation, based on agroforestry concepts. The farm is surrounded by forests and faces Sinharaja, Sri Lanka’s largest rainforest, in a UNESCO Heritage site. They map each field, look at the gaps, and bring forest trees, fruit trees, and other crops alongside tea plants. They also plant coffee, pepper, and cinnamon in their shedded areas. This approach to tea farming not only helps to preserve the forests and biodiversity of Sri Lanka but also creates a unique terroir that impacts the flavor of their teas.
Discovering the Art of Agroforestry Tea Farming in Sinharaja, Kaley Tea Estate
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Kaley Tea, a tea farm in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country. As someone who has always been interested in the art of tea making, I was excited to learn more about Kaley Tea’s unique approach to tea farming, which is based on agroforestry concepts.
When I arrived at the farm, I was greeted by Udina, the co-founder of Kaley Tea. He took me on a tour of the farm, and I was immediately struck by the beauty of the landscape. The farm is part forest, part rainforest, and part cultivation, and it’s surrounded by the lush greenery of Sinharaja, Sri Lanka’s largest rainforest.
As we walked through the fields, Udina explained to me how Kaley Tea is bringing the forest into their cultivation, instead of clearing it. They map each field, look at the gaps, and bring forest trees, fruit trees, and other crops alongside tea plants. This approach not only helps to preserve the forests and biodiversity of Sri Lanka but also creates a unique terroir that impacts the flavor of their teas.
I had the opportunity to taste some of Kaley Tea’s artisan teas, and I was blown away by the quality and uniqueness of the flavors. Udina showed me how they smoke Lapsang Souchong with cinnamon leaf for a distinctive flavor, and I was impressed by their attention to detail and craftsmanship.
Throughout my visit, I was struck by Kaley Tea’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. They are working to change the way tea is produced and perceived, with a focus on quality and artisanal methods. They are also helping to preserve the forests and wildlife of Sri Lanka through their agroforestry approach.
My visit to Kaley Tea was a journey to the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country, where I discovered the art of agroforestry tea farming in Sinharaja. I left with a new appreciation for the craftsmanship and sustainability of Kaley Tea’s artisan teas, and I look forward to sharing their story with others who are interested in the world of tea.
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Kaley Tea is a tea farm located in Sri Lanka’s tea country that produces artisan teas using an agroforestry approach to farming. They are known for their unique and sustainable methods of tea cultivation.
Agroforestry is a farming system that combines agriculture with forestry in a mutually beneficial way. It involves integrating trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems, and can help improve soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability.
Kaley Tea is different from other tea farms in Sri Lanka because they are bringing the forest into their cultivation, instead of clearing it. They are using agroforestry concepts to map each field, look at the gaps, and bring forest trees, fruit trees, and other crops alongside tea plants. This approach not only helps to preserve the forests and biodiversity of Sri Lanka but also creates a unique terroir that impacts the flavor of their teas.
Kaley Tea produces a variety of artisan teas, including black tea, green tea, white tea, and Lapsang Souchong. They use unique methods of production, such as Japanese style and smoking with cinnamon leaf, to create distinctive and high-quality teas.
The terroir of Kaley Tea’s teas is unique because of their location and agroforestry approach to farming. The farm is surrounded by forests and faces Sinharaja, Sri Lanka’s largest rainforest, in a UNESCO Heritage site. This creates a microclimate that impacts the flavor of their teas and gives them a distinctive taste.
