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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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White teas - Champagne of all brews By Jayampathy Jayasinghe There were four girls plucking young tea buds on a sunny morning at Handungama Estate, Ahangama when we arrived there last week. It was obvious to us that they were not the usual type of tea pluckers that we encounter in tea estates. There was something unique about the girls, clad in white aprons, white headgear and with white gloves apparently to prevent contamination of tea leaves. At a simple ceremony held at Handungama Estate, steeped in both Sri Lankan and typical South Korean tradition, the newly manufactured white tea named Kilbum Imperial was launched. The proprietor of Handungama Estate, Herman Gunaratne said that the white tea manufactured at Handungama Estate has been named "Kilburn Imperial" to honour Chairman David Kilburn an Englishman living in South Korea. The white tea is manufactured according to an ancient Chinese recipe to caters to the palate of South Korean and East Asians. The revival of Kilburn Imperial white tea is the brainchild of David Kilbum, who owns three Tea Museum in Seoul, South Korea. Kilburn had worked before for 18 years with a number of leading advertising agencies and as a business journalist for periodicals like Advertising Age and the Adweek before taking to the tea business. Clad in a loose fitting white silk shirt and trouser, David Kilburn spoke to us at Hadungama Estate Bungalow with his wife Jade seated alongside. Both said that it was their maiden visit to Sri Lanka and they were delighted to be at the Hadungama Estate Bungalow. In fact David Kilburn had come to Sri Lanka to sign up with Handungama estate to purchase white tea to South Korea. White tea is a precious commodity produced in limited quantities. "There is a growing interest among South Koreans and Asians to consume special teas. There are over 100 different varieties of teas sold in South Korea," Kilburn said. Asked what was so unique about White Kilburn Tea, he said young tea buds are picked up by pluckers wearing gloves and head gear to prevent contamination of any sort. In ancient times white tea never came in contact with the human anatomy until the Emperor drank it. It was an ancient Chinese recipe to preserve the delicate flavour and fragrance of tea. Kilbrun said that there is a growing demand for teas in South Korea where people are beginning to experience different types of teas in the market. "We import several varieties of teas including green teas from China ." Although white teas are available in the market, "Kilburn Imperial" white tea is special because it never comes in contact with the human anatomy. On his return to South Korea he hopes to open three more tea museums where people could walk in and taste different kinds of teas before purchasing them. David Kilburn came to know Herman Gunaratne through his business contacts in South Korea who used to buy merchandise from Hadungama Estate. The Tea Museum is South Koreas leading importer of premium quality teas and herbal infusions. The tea museum imports , wholesale and retail a wide variety of teas and herbal infusions from 12 different countries which are sold in Museum's own outlets and in department stores. Handungamuwa Tea, Rubber and Cinnamon Estate is located in a remote hamlet in the Ahangama district about 84 miles from the capital city of Colombo. From Ahangama town one has to travel three miles into the interior from the village of Kataluwa. Usually it takes about ten minutes to get there from the Koggala tourist resort complex and a 45 minutes drive from Galle town. The estate with an acreage of 200 is owned by Malinga Herman Guneratne. We learnt that many foreign tourists visit the Hadungama Tea and Rubber plantation which has become a tourist attraction which is located close to the beach. Guneratne said that there is a growing demand worldwide for premium quality teas as people learn more about the differences between them. The White Tea was first produced in China. The Song Dynasty Emperor, Hui Zhong who reigned 1101 -1125 is said to have proclaimed that "white tea is the culmination of all that is elegant ." However, White Teas do have an older history in China and probably first appeared during the Tang Dynasty in 618-907 A.D. |
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