What Makes Ceylon Tea Different from Indian Tea? A Complete Guide

Ceylon tea and Indian tea — Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri — are the world’s most celebrated black teas, but they are very different in character.

Ceylon tea, grown in the highlands of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), is known for its bright, brisk, slightly citrusy character with a clean finish. Indian teas tend to be earthier, with Assam offering a malty heaviness and Darjeeling a lighter, muscatel quality.

Ceylon tea is graded by leaf size: OP (Orange Pekoe) uses whole leaves for a smoother cup; BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe) is slightly stronger; and BOPF (Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings) produces the boldest, most robust brew — ideal for those who take their tea with milk.

Ceylon tea is also the base of many famous blends — English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast and most traditional tea bags in the UK trace their character to Ceylon.

At SOO, all our teas carry the Sri Lanka Tea Board’s Lion Logo — the global guarantee of 100% authentic Ceylon origin.