Sri Lanka's topography dictates global tea prices

A leading tea industry expert says that Sri Lanka's internationally famed tea business operates on a clear three-tier system, where the altitude at which leaves are grown directly dictates their market role and price.

- BY SANATH NANAYAKKARE

"Looking at the sales data of Forbes & Walker, elevation isn't just about geography - it's about economics," the expert says. "Each tier - high, medium, and low-grown - has a completely different function in the global market."

At the top are the high-grown teas from misty regions like Nuwara Eliya. "This is the luxury tier," the expert notes. "The slow growth in cool air creates exquisite flavour and aroma, fetching top dollar at auction. It's our prestige export, but it's fragile being dependent on perfect weather and global demand trends," he says.