Labookellie Estate

over 150 years of tea heritage looks to the future under Damro

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Colonial era planter's bungalow

High above the mist-draped peaks of Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, where crisp winds whisper across emerald slopes, lies the iconic Labookellie Estate.

Established in 1870, this plantation has stood the test of time as one of the country's most renowned tea estates, blending heritage, innovation and community service in a way that continues to shape the identity of Ceylon Tea.

Today, under the stewardship of the Damro Group, Labookellie remains both a symbol of Sri Lanka's tea legacy and a vibrant contributor to its economy and culture.

From colonial beginnings to modern excellence

The origins of Labookellie go back to 1870, when it was first established in Ramboda under colonial ownership. Initially managed by Ceylon Co. Ltd. and later Eastern Produce & Estates Co. Ltd., the estate quickly gained recognition for producing tea of exceptional quality.

By the late 19th century, its green leaf had become prized for its distinct flavor profiles, light, brisk and floral, characteristic of high-grown teas cultivated above 1,500 meters.

Labookellie was among the first estates to experiment with high-grown cultivation and played a formative role in the island's tea auctions and exports. Its Condegalla Division tea bushes, planted in 1867 from seeds imported from China by Solomon and Gabriel De Worms, are among the oldest commercial tea bushes in Sri Lanka and are still maintained today.

Around the same period, James Taylor planted the first tea clearing at Loolecondera Estate and visited Condegalla Estate with William Mackwood, laying the foundations of Sri Lanka's global tea industry.