🇱🇰 Journey through Seven Regions of Ceylon Tea in Belgium ☕

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels and the Sri Lanka Tea Board hosted an exclusive workshop, "Journey through the seven regions of Ceylon Tea," on May 28, 2026, to commemorate International Tea Day. • Key Highlights: The event attracted over 40 participants, including officials from the European Commission's Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), Belgian tea importers, distributors, specialty retailers, and tea sommeliers. • Economic Context: Ambassador Chandana Weerasena highlighted how the tea industry is deeply integrated into Sri Lanka's economy, playing a vital role in employment, transport networks, and poverty alleviation. The island's compact geography yields an unparalleled diversity of seven distinct regional tea varieties, each unique in flavour, colour, and aroma. • Market Expansion: Minister Commercial Thavishya Mullegamgoda outlined sustainable cultivation practices and strategies to strengthen the global identity of Ceylon Tea. The initiative aimed to enhance branding, innovation, and quality assurance to boost the competitive edge of Sri Lankan tea in premium Belgian and European markets. • Promotion: Led by certified tea master Stijn Van Schoonlandt, the event featured interactive tasting sessions of regional black teas, product sample displays from Sri Lankan exporters, and traditional Sri Lankan culinary pairings to foster future trade opportunities in Europe.