Tea is the national drink of Sri Lanka! They produce tons of the stuff and all over the world everyday people drink tea that comes from Sri Lanka. A great place to see where it comes from is the valleys and hills at Haputale in the hill country! Haputale is home to the famous Dambatenne Tea Factory which was opened by Scottish man Thomas Lipton more than a century ago! The tea is all grown locally in the mountains![]

It's in the middle of nowhere in fact so visiting Dambatenne tea factory is an off the beaten track gem. If you've grown up on drinking tea it's a place not to be missed though I must say.

Getting to Dambatenne Tea Factory

Getting to the Dambatenne Tea Factory is tricky for tourists. Up in the mountains and valleys there is no rail system here. The bus system does run, but the roads are so narrow you are better off finding a local driver. Get a local driver to take you and save the hassle! He will know what he is doing! []

How much does it cost to visit Dambatenne Tea Factory?

You will be charged 250 Rupees to enter which is fair enough. You must pay in cash at the main entrance. You might also have a short delay before starting the tour as the workers may be busy and not ready to give you the guided tour yet. However it will be worth the wait.

How long does the tour of Dambatenne Tea Factory take?

It can be split into three parts and takes about 20 - 25 minutes, here are the three parts:

1. A visit to the rooms upstairs where the tea arrives in from. They are put into machines to begin the refining process.

2. Secondly you are in a large room downstairs to watch the process of the tea being refined before it is heated at the end.

3. Lastly all the tea will be heated then let to cool. Once cooled, it goes into bags to be distributed around the globe!

Photos are banned inside for parts 2 and 3 of the tour which is fair enough as it's their secret factory and the staff are also busy working. In terms of opening times for the tour, then it's probably 9 - 5 but just make sure you check before you head there!

What else is the tour about?

It's a very basic and quick tour and that's really all there is to it. I was surprised to learn that there is NO tea shop or even souvenir shop there - I'd have thought they would have made money from something like that, but alas the only thing you can do is buy a fresh packet of Dambatenne Tea!!

The packet of tea cost 300 Rupees and that's the Dambatenne stuff. However the better tea called Simondou costs a whopping 1,100 Rupees! You can also buy them in the nearby towns of course.

What other things can you do in the area nearby?

It's such a mountainous region so there are four other things to do which is best done with a driver:

1. Savour the mountain views

2. Walk round the tea plantations

3. Stop at a cafe for a cup of tea with a view

4. Go to the town of Haputale which has hotels, shops, an ATM and markets

There you have it - the tour is short and over quickly but is worth a trip and provides you with great travel memories.

OK it's tea time!