4 Best Ceylon Teas in 2026: Quality Sri Lankan Teas Worth Drinking

Ceylon tea stands out because it’s got a distinct ability to deliver balance and reliability across all sorts of tea styles. Grown in Sri Lanka, it offers a bit of a bold taste and a lovely aroma alongside a clear flavor, a steady body and a clean finish that makes it perfect for everyday drinking. Whether you like your tea on the robust side or a bit lighter, pure Ceylon tea caters to both new and old tea drinkers alike.

These days, Ceylon tea comes in all sorts of forms - you can get it loose leaf, in tea bags or even blended with all sorts of other teas as part of a breakfast blend or Earl Grey. It’s also pretty versatile, can be enjoyed on its own or with milk and lemon - which is probably why it’s become one of the most popular teas around.

To put together this guide, we searched the web for reviews, looked at the bestsellers, checked the quality of the ingredients, consistency and availability and then narrowed it down to find the best Ceylon tea options for 2026.

Ceylon tea is only grown and processed in Sri Lanka - a place that used to be known as Ceylon back in the day. The Sri Lanka Tea Board makes sure that all the Ceylon tea we get meets certain standards and has proper certification to ensure it really is a genuine Ceylon tea from that part of the world.

The truth is, this tea is made from the humble Camellia sinensis plant - mainly as black tea, but they also do green and white varieties. Now the beauty of Ceylon tea is that the different regions it comes from, with their different climates and soil, all seem to produce their own unique flavor profiles.

It’s worth noting that the quality of the tea is often very much down to the region and the grade of the leaves, with the high-end Silver Tips being recognised as a premium style - it’s made from the finest tea buds and it’s always carefully harvested. This particular type of tea can taste anywhere from bright and citrusy to silky smooth and a bit nutty - and that really is all down to the specific region that produced it.

Ceylon tea comes in black, green and white varieties - each is made in a slightly different way to get that unique aroma and flavor that the best Ceylon tea is so famous for. They do this by rolling the leaves, preventing them from getting too oxidised, or just letting them oxidise a bit - and then drying them down to get the perfect blend.

Back in the mid 1800s, tea farming in Sri Lanka started because of a rather nasty disease that wiped out the coffee plantations, so the British planters decided to give tea a go. It was a smart move as it basically turned Sri Lanka into one of the world’s top tea producers overnight.

Places like Kandy, Uva, and Dimbula developed a reputation for producing some of the best Ceylon tea out there, each with its own unique flavor profile that will give you a sense of the bold taste, fragrant aroma, and that distinctive reddish orange color that the tea is famous for.

Ceylon tea is more than just a drink to the Sri Lankans; it’s a big part of their daily life and hospitality. Drinking tea is not just about quenching your thirst, it’s about the warmth, the community and the heritage that comes with it. Whether it’s strong black Ceylon tea, refreshing green tea or a rare white tea, the whole ritual of making and enjoying a cup of tea is something that everyone across the island holds dear.

On top of all the cultural significance, the tea is also pretty good for you because of its natural antioxidants and catechins. Whether you take it on its own or with a bit of milk, lemon or honey, Ceylon tea has been capturing the hearts of tea lovers all over the world for years. It’s a true legacy of quality, tradition and something to be proud of.

Brand Overview: Harney & Sons is a family-owned tea company that’s been around since 1983, and they’ve built their reputation on a commitment to quality and a real passion for tea-making. They put old-world craftsmanship together with some pretty forward-thinking ideas - like the use of those handy little sachets that do a great job of minimizing their environmental impact.

Flavor & Experience: This classic black tea blend is an absolute winner: it takes the smooth styles of Ceylon tea and matches it up with the robust strength of Assam. The Ceylon gives it a nice taste and brightness, while the Assam adds a bit of depth and heft. It’s one of those cups that just feels steady and comforting - with a hint of grainy notes and a citrusy edge that keeps the whole thing nicely in check.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Put a teaspoon of Orange Pekoe – Ceylon and India into some freshly heated water and you’ll get a deep, rich color almost instantly, and a lovely grainy aroma that’s pretty familiar. As the cup settles, the texture will be smooth and medium-bodied, but still hold up pretty well to a bit of milk - and leave you with a great, balanced finish.

Brand Overview: Culinary Teas is a family business with a real passion for good, quality tea - and they reckon the best way to enjoy it is as a social experience: getting together with friends and family, and making some unforgettable memories over a great cup of tea.

Flavor & Experience: This Ceylon tea really shows off the unique character of the Dimbula region - it’s got some seriously bold floral notes going on, along with a slightly pungent edge that adds some real structure to the tea. The flavor feels nice and crisp and lively, and the clarity and brightness of a top-notch Sri Lankan tea really shines through.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Brew a teaspoon of St Coombs Dimbula Ceylon Tea into some hot water and see the long, twisted leaves slowly unfurl - and the result’s a lovely coppery color. The aroma really starts to take off, all floral and intense, and the cup develops a nice firm body that feels really refreshing, especially when you drink it plain or with just a splash of milk.

Flavor & Experience: This wild spiced Ceylon blend combines black tea with cardamom and clove - the spices lift the aroma without overpowering the taste. The tea gives the drink a solid base which keeps it from getting lost in the spices. As the cup starts to open up, you’ll notice the warm spice notes slowly emerging, adding depth without overwhelming the tea.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Add a teaspoon of Wild Spiced Ceylon to hot water and notice how the spice aromas jump out first, followed by the richer notes of black tea. As the cup develops, the texture starts to feel nice and rounded, smooth and warming - after a while, the clove and cardamom sort of slip into the background, giving you a nice balanced finish.

Brand Overview: Somage, which started out in Melbourne, Australia in 2007, make a pretty big deal about premium organic teas, chai blends and drinking chocolates. Their Curated Range is all about combining botanicals with traditional techniques and a bit of modern flair - they’re really focused on getting top-notch ingredients and great flavor.

Flavor & Experience: This English breakfast tea is about as straightforward as it gets - it’s a beautifully simple expression of top-grade Ceylon tea. There’s a bit of earthy undertone going on in there but the overall flavor is smooth and really uplifting. It feels rich without being too sharp, and it’s a really nice cup for drinking on a daily basis.

Brewing & Serving Notes: Place one English Breakfast - Pyramid Bag into hot water, and watch as the finely chopped Ceylon leaves give the brew a rich color and a pretty mellow earthy aroma. As you wait for it to infuse, the smoothness just keeps on building - it’s got a nice steady body to it, so it’s really easy to drink on its own, or with a bit of milk.

• You’ll want to make sure you use fresh clean water and keep the heat stable for the best results when brewing.
• If you can spring for loose-leaf tea, you’ll get a lot more depth and aroma out of it - especially if you’re using a high-quality selection.
• If you’re in a hurry or don’t want to mess with loose-leaf, tea bags will give you a pretty consistent experience and still get the job done without sacrificing too much balance.
• Black tea styles are known for producing a rich, bold body and a bright, eye-catching color.
• On the other hand, green tea and white tea styles create a lighter, softer cup with a really refreshing finish.

Ceylon tea comes in several distinct types, each offering unique flavor profiles and characteristics that cater to different preferences.

1. Ceylon Black Tea: The most popular variety, known for its bold, brisk flavor with a citrusy flavor. Top options include OP (orange pekoe) teas, featuring thin, wiry leaves that brew a light, refreshing cup with citrus notes. It brews to a rich amber or reddish-gold color and is often enjoyed plain or with milk or lemon. Its robust flavor makes it a favorite in breakfast blends like English Breakfast.
2. Ceylon Green Tea: Ceylon Green tea from Ceylon is a lot less oxidised than black tea so it’s got a lighter, more delicate flavor with some grassy and vegetal notes. It’s also got loads of antioxidants and catechins, so Ceylon green tea is a pretty popular choice among tea drinkers who take a bit of notice of what’s in their cup. The infusion is pretty pale - green to yellow - and has a nice refreshing finish.
3. Ceylon White Tea: Ceylon white tea is the pretty rare and pretty delicate stuff. It’s made from very young buds that are minimally processed so it comes out with a lovely subtle, floral, and naturally sweet taste. If you like a refined, mild tea experience then this is the one for you and its light color and gentle aroma won’t go amiss.
4. Ceylon Oolong Tea: A bit like a half-way house between green and black tea, Ceylon oolong tea has a pretty smooth, balanced flavor that’s got a bit of the fresh, grassy notes of green tea and a bit of the fuller body of black tea. This complex and aromatic tea can swing from floral to fruity depending on how it’s been processed.
5. Flavored Ceylon Teas: And finally you’ve got the flavored options where tea is mixed with natural ingredients like bergamot to make Earl Grey, or blended with spices like cinnamon and cardamom for a warming, aromatic cup. These are a great little way to add some variety and make the tea a bit more appealing to a wider audience.

The ceylon tea taste is all about brightness and clarity. The taste profile of the best Ceylon tea tends to be all about brightness and clarity. But the truth is, it’s the kind of tea that’s as variable as the places it’s grown. Sometimes you’ll get that nice citrus flavor, other times a hint of light-malted sweetness or a gentle floral note - depending on where the tea is grown. And the really good stuff - whole leaf, aromatic and with a bright liquor - that’s typically what you’re after.

High grown teas, like the ones from Uva, pack a real punch on the palate - they’re brisk and lively. Now, take Nuwara Eliya tea for example - that’s a tea that’s known for being super light and delicate, with a floral style and a hint of citrus. And then you’ve got Ruhuna - that produces a strong, full-bodied brew with a deep color and some seriously tasty caramel or chocolate notes.

But low grown teas are different again - they tend to have a richer body and a deeper color. This shows up really well in Ceylon black tea, where the strength and warmth really take centre stage. We also have Ceylon green and Ceylon white teas which offer a lighter, more delicate flavor that’s perfect for people after a nice, refreshing cup.

Ceylon tea has been a go-to for tea enthusiasts looking for quality and a taste adventure for years now. You can chalk it up to the bold black tea, the cool refreshing green tea, or the delicate tea - whatever your preference, the best Ceylon tea from pure Ceylon tea out of Sri Lanka will consistently deliver a great taste and that extra something to make it special.

Where it comes from is part of its charm - the rich history of the Ceylon tea trade, combined with the traditional methods still used today, means that every cup is a treat for the senses.

Whether you’re a loose leaf kind of person, appreciate the ease of a tea bag or are all about those expertly blended teas - Taste of Tea got you covered. Our selection of the best Ceylon teas is a journey of discovery - with each sip you get a taste of the region and the craftsmanship that goes into every cup.