Handunugoda Tea Estate

Home to Virgin White Tea

One of the things Sri Lanka is famous for is its world-renowned tea. While tea estates are generally found in the hills of the central province, the Handunugoda Tea Estate is nestled between the Sinharaja Rainforest and the resplendent southern coast of Sri Lanka. The estate specialises in the production of the Virgin White Tea, a blend of tea which is only made from the tiniest and newest of leaves. Virgin White Tea is quite different from regular black tea as it’s a far more intricate process; for instance, in a large plantation tea pluckers would pick about 23kg of tea a day, but here pluckers only handle about 150 leaves a day! Also, the tea here is untouched by human hands throughout the whole process, the tea collectors here use a small pair of scissors and a bowl instead. Virgin White Tea is an extremely delicate brew of tea and it is said that this tradition originated from a Chinese emperor who ruled over 4,000 years ago and that it was a drink exclusively served at the Imperial Court. 

An Insightful Tour

Visiting the Handunugoda should be on your list of things to do in Weligama since it is less than a 30-minute journey to get there. When you visit you can also go on a tour around the tea factory to learn about the intricate process it takes to manufacture Virgin White Tea, an activity which would be enjoyed by the whole family.