If you are visiting Nuwara Eliya, take advantage of the Bluefield Tea Garden. Imagine wandering through delightful tea fields encompassed by nature’s beauty. Bluefield Tea Garden is not like those typical tea estates- it’s a magical universe where the famous Ceylon tea is created. Bluefield Tea Gardens is a famous hillside tea estate in Rambado, Sri Lanka. An excellent and quaint environment of valleys and vegetation surrounds it, making it one of the most visited tea estates in the Nuwara Eliya region. This tea estate resembles the British infrastructure and is called Little England.
History Of The Bluefield Tea Garden
Image Credit: Bernard Gagnon for Wikimedia Commons
When the Bristishers bid farewell to Sri Lanka, they left their tea estates to local hands. Some of such tea estates were given to good hands and thus resumed their success. However, some smaller estates lay abandoned, and some of them, which the local tea farmers took over, did not succeed because of their lack of beneficial contacts and business understanding. Bluefield Tea Garden was one such tea estate that was, at first, incapable of succeeding after the handover. Their efforts turned fruitful when Bluefield was converted into a prosperous community of 175 families whose breadwinners worked for the tea estate and factory. It plays a significant role in the tea export trade and produces top-quality tea that tea enthusiasts in many countries love.
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Things To Do In the Bluefield Tea Garden
Bluefield Tea Garden believes in total transparency, providing every visitor with a hands-on experience of the tea manufacturing process. The entire procedure is visible to all tourists so that anybody can learn the techniques. From the beginning, guests are provided with well-trained guides to understand the whole arena better. Some major highlights of the tour are:
1. Factory visit:
A vast tea factory is inside the Bluefield Tea Gardens. There are trained guides who provide helpful information to the visitors at every step of the factory tour. You will witness the proper processes of how tea is dried, pressed and produced. You will also see various equipment used in tea production, and the guides will explain how each machine works. They also have a tea-tasting chamber with many different types of tea. Upon completion of the trip, you will know the processes used in the other methods of brewing tea and the procedures for identifying various methods of tea. Here, you will understand the right way to brew tea and the numerous methods of determining the distinct types of tea.
2. Tea Center
Once you finish the factory tour, you can buy fresh packets of tea leaves or even a small souvenir from the tea factory’s gift shop. Before you leave, you may also appreciate a cup of hot, perfectly brewed tea and some pies at the Bluefield’s restaurant. The Tea Shop contains a wide range of tea varieties. You can also buy tea in different flavours grown in various ranges. Bluefield Tea Gardens also gives the tourists a tea-tasting experience that is equally fun and informative.
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3. Tea Estate Rounds
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The enormous tea estate within the Bluefield Tea Gardens is informative and lovely. The guide, with successive rounds, aids those who are curious to learn about the tea production processes around the Tea estates.
4. Tea Lounge And Restaurant
If your stomach grumbles anytime throughout the tour, a restaurant inside Bluefield Tea Gardens caters to your growling stomach. They have provisions for breakfast and lunch. Alongside the restaurant, there is a Tea lounge that provides hot, strongly brewed tea from tea leaves in their gardens.
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5. Children’s Park
If you are worried that your children will be bored during the trip, don’t be. A small area within the Bluefield Tea Museum is exclusively assigned to children so they can play around. An open space within nature will provide a good atmosphere for the kids to enjoy.
Entry Fee And Working Hours For The Bluefield Tea Gardens
The best part of this destination is that the entrance is free for all! But please tip the guides and their workers for their hard work! The Bluefield Tea Gardens are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can spend a maximum of two hours here, including your time at the tea lounge and restaurant. You can always club your visit to the Bluefield Tea Gardens with another tourist spot.
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Best Time To Visit Bluefield Tea Gardens
February to May is the perfect time to drop by Bluefield Tea Gardens since the temperature is relatively pleasant and low in the Nuwara Eliya region where the tea estate is located. This is the perfect time for sightseeing and roaming around, as there is little rainfall in the area. The average yearly temperature is 16 degrees throughout the year. June to November is monsoon season, making exploration quite tricky.
How To Reach Bluefield Tea Gardens
Reaching the Bluefield Tea Gardens is an adventure by itself. Bluefield Tea Gardens is situated in Rambado town, which is around 28km away from Nuwara Eliya. The trip’s final leg will always be by road, whether you travel by air or train. Here’s a guide on how to get there:
1. By Air:
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the closest major Airport in Colombo, around 136km away. You can hire a cab from the Airport, and it will take you under 4 hours to reach Bluefield Tea Gardens.
2. By Road:
You can take the A1 highway from Colombo towards Kandy and the A5 towards Nuwara Eliya. The Bluefield Tea Gardens are situated on the way to Nuwara Eliya. Many buses that run along the Colombo to Nuwara Eliya route are available.
3. By Train:
The closest railway station is Nanu Oya Railway Station in Nuwara Eliya city, 27.58 km away. You can hail a cab or tuk-tuk from Nuwara Eliya to reach the Bluefield Tea Gardens.
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Now that you have a thorough idea of what to expect on your trip to Sri Lanka make sure you add to your itinerary on your next vacation to Sri Lanka. Book your tickets well in advance for the best offers!
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Cover Image Source: Naushadnaznin For wikimedia commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Bluefield Tea Gardens
Should you book a tour in advance for the Blue Field Tea Gardens?
No. You don't have to pre-book a tour.
Is the Factory and Garden in the same place or in different places?
The factory and the Bluefield Tea Gardens garden are on the same premises.
Does Blue Field Tea Gardens have a Tea Factory Tour?
Yes. Blue Field Tea Gardens conducts tours for all visitors.
Is a guide required for the tour of the Blue Field Tea Gardens?
Yes. A guide is present in the Bluefield Tea Gardens to explain the process better.
Is the Blue Field Tea Gardens open on Sundays?
Yes. It is open even on all days of the week.
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