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Black tea · Eastern highlands

Ceylon Uva

8.3/10 editor's score

Black tea from the eastern slopes of Sri Lanka's hill country. In its dry-wind season Uva gives a famous brisk, cooling, slightly mentholated cup.

BriskTakes milkSeasonal
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Ceylon Uva, top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafCeylon Uva
250 ml water95 to 100°C
Steep 3:002 steeps
LiquorBright reddish-amber
Served inTeapot and cup

At a glance

Black tea from the eastern slopes of Sri Lanka's hill country.

CaffeineMedium~35 to 55 mg, our estimate
MilkTakes milk well.
Beginner fit8.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestAll year, best July to SeptemberDry winds bring the famous Uva flavour.
Pairs withBreakfast, Shortbread, Roast meatsLess good with delicate sweets
Grown atAbout 900 to 1,500 mUva, Uva Province
Served inTeapot and cupA general choice

About Ceylon Uva

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a brisk, mellow tea with a distinctive aroma in the dry season, which some writers compare to wintergreen or menthol 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

UvaUva ProvinceSRI LANKA
District
Uva, eastern hill country 1
Elevation
About 900 to 1,500 m 1
Climate
Dry winds in July to September 1
Famous for
Distinctive seasonal flavour 1

More from Uva and Sri Lanka.

History and culture

Thomas Lipton bought estates in the Uva area in the 1890s and helped make Ceylon tea famous worldwide 1.

Editor's score

8.3/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.0Origin & heritage: 8.5Availability: 8.0Value: 8.5Beginner-friendliness: 8.5Versatility: 8.5Flavour 8.0Heritage 8.5Availability 8.0Value 8.5Beginners 8.5Versatility 8.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Ceylon Uva~35 to 55 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Uva's quality season is the dry period in the middle of the year 1. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Clonal Camellia sinensis bushes 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

By hand.

02Withering

Troughs.

03Rolling

Orthodox.

04Oxidation

Full.

05Drying

Fired.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafDark, broken leaf.
LiquorBright reddish-amber.
After steeping
Wet leafCopper-brown.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Breakfast
  • Shortbread
  • Roast meats

Best avoided

  • Delicate sweets

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque tin or pouch, away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells.
  • Keep it out of the fridge unless fully sealed, to avoid condensation.
  • Most loose tea is at its best within a year. Note the harvest date on the tin.
Grades and fakes

Ceylon uses the orthodox leaf grades: OP (long leaf), BOP and BOPF (broken), and Pekoe. Grades describe leaf size, not quality 2.

Teas are sold mainly through the Colombo auction.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Look for the Lion logo of the Sri Lanka Tea Board on packs made of 100% Ceylon tea.
  2. A named district or estate is more useful than just "Ceylon".
  3. Check the season: each district has a quality season.
FAQ
Why menthol?

A seasonal note from the dry winds of July to September. Not all Uva tea shows it.

Find it inBlack teasTeas from Sri LankaUvaBriskTakes milkSeasonal

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Tea production in Sri Lanka". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_production_in_Sri_Lanka
  2. Wikipedia, "Tea leaf grading". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_leaf_grading
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.