Imagine, relaxing in a chair and taking slow sips from a cup of freshly made tea to clear the clutter in your mind, and drive away the fatigue of a busy day. Such is the charm of the Island elixir that comes to you from Tea Tang.
Words Hansani Bandara Photographs Damith Wickramasinghe
It all began in 1979, when the B P de Silva Group of Companies set off to explore the Sri Lankan tea tradition, with the aim of serving Sri Lankans ‘nothing less than the absolute best’. Thus, today Tea Tang prides themselves as ‘tailors of senses, crafting specific blends to suit their clients with precision’.
For them, making tea in itself is an art; a sacred one at that. They ensure that everyone who visits their stores at Havelock Road and Liberty Plaza, also share this enthusiasm.
Giving a new identity to the beverage that is very much likened to the ‘drink of life, a diverse collection of delightfully refreshing teas are available at the stores. From classic orthodox tea blends such as English Breakfast,Earl Grey, Green Tea and Golden and Silver Tips, to region specific teas from Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula and Ruhuna, Tea Tang offers a variety of tea.
Each flavour had been made to give a different taste to one another. Silver and Golden Tips—the most exquisite and expensive teas give a subtle tang, that has to be carefully tasted to savour its essence.
Amidst the assortment of different tea flavours, little ceramic elephants, carved tea pots and chests are also in store providing options for gifts. Packaging for all of the gift items are sourced from local handicraft artistes as a part of Tea Tang’s vision to encourage and support the livelihood of small scale local entrepreneurs.
Exuding a setting—peaceful and quiet—that is ideal to have a cup of tea, the arrangement and interior of the two stores allures one to rediscover the tradition of Ceylon’s most favoured beverage.
At Tea Tang, it is a journey of discovery where the zenith of quality of Ceylon Tea is appreciated and presented to the consumer. The approach is to highlight that tea is more than an everyday beverage. It is about representing the true flavour of the country.
‘Shakthi Gallery’,
11, Havelock Road, Colombo 5
Tea Tang Boutique, Ground Floor, Liberty Plaza, Colombo 3
Tel: (+94 11) 460 7500
CSR
The value of the B P de Silva Group lies in its vision of giving back to the society. As such, ‘Shakthi’ Foundation was initiated as an integral part of the Group’s commitment to social service. Under the Shakthi programme, which is based in the areas of Ahungalla and Hikkaduwa, the Foundation identifies skilful women and conducts training workshops in sewing. Following such workshops, the participants are provided with the necessary equipment, material and assistance to start their own venture of self-employment. The programme does not end at this point; since all of the goods are then bought by the Foundation and sold at the Shakthi Gallery providing a market for their products. Proceedings from such sales go back to conduct workshops of similar nature and to cover the operational cost of the project.
Part of the Shakthi Gallery is also allocated for the paintings of veteran artist Nihal Sangabo Dias, who has lost his hearing but feels the world and expresses himself through his paintings.
