The tale of Taylor and tea is an often-told one. The sesquicentennial being celebrated this year dates from when James Taylor supervised the planting of tea plants on Field No.7 at Loolecondera Estate, 34 km southeast of Kandy.
Taylor arrived in Ceylon on February 20, 1852, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday. He was unhappy with the brutal behaviour of the planter on the estate (Naranghena) to which he was assigned so, after six weeks, transferred to Loolecondera. Coffee was the crop then and Taylor was diligent in turning the virgin plantation into a profitable venture, building a bungalow for himself, and even creating a flourishing flower garden. He experimented with other crops such as nutmeg, clove, vanilla and cardamom but had the most success with growing and marketing cinchona bark (the source of quinine).
Taylor arrived in Ceylon on February 20, 1852, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday. He was unhappy with the brutal behaviour of the planter on the estate (Naranghena) to which he was assigned so, after six weeks, transferred to Loolecondera. Coffee was the crop then and Taylor was diligent in turning the virgin plantation into a profitable venture, building a bungalow for himself, and even creating a flourishing flower garden. He experimented with other crops such as nutmeg, clove, vanilla and cardamom but had the most success with growing and marketing cinchona bark (the source of quinine).
Read more: Taylor-made: Sri Lankan Tea
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