Honouring Late Navaratne Pilapitiya: Founder of New Vithanakande Tea Factory
It’s true that Ceylon Tea hasn’t got a long history as Chinese tea. Tea was first grown commercially in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) by Scottish planter James Taylor in 1867. Eventually Ceylon Tea became one of the finest tasting teas in the world thanks to her overall, well balanced tasting profile with ideal strength, body, aroma and flavour. During this short history, Asia’s Sweetheart (Sri Lanka) had the honour of having legends who really contributed to the betterment of tea industry. Late Mr. Navaratne Pilapitiya the Founder of New Vithanakande Tea Factory is one of them. This true legend passed away in early September 2019.
You must be wondering why I am admiring him so much. That’s purely due to his great effort to make his trade mark present in many popular Online tea websites all around the globe. It’s not a new name for single estate tea lovers in North America and Europe.
1. USA
Elm Wood Fine Teas: https://store.elmwoodinn.com/ceylon-new-vithanakande.aspx
2. UK
3. Netherlands
4. Canada: https://distinctlytea.com/products/vithanakande-estate-bop1
5. Italy: https://www.laviadelte.com/shop/ceylon-vithanakande/
Review By Tea Snob: http://teasnob.de/new-vithanakande-fbopf-ex-sp
Above are very few, there are many more you can find if you just type “New Vithanakande” in any search engine.
About The Founder
Mr. Pilapitiya having served as a planter in an agency house, retired after a couple of years to take over the family-owned Vithanakande tea factory and the tea fields surrounding it. He gradually built it to a new level of excellence. This led the tea factory to be an excellent food processing factory, producing a high-quality product for which the buyers paid a premium price.
This legend nurtured the smallholder tea gardens in his Delwala village to cultivate and pluck high quality tea leaves. He thereafter spread his wings into the entirety of Kalawana area and beyond.
Mr. Pilapitiya was a part of the team that formed Private Tea Factory Owners Association which is now possibly stronger and as powerful as the Planters Association. Mr. Pilapitiya served on the committee, subsequently occupying the hot seat of Chairman 1999-2001.
At The National Tea Award Ceremony for 2017, organized by Sri Lanka Tea Board parallel to 150th Anniversary of Ceylon Tea this well renowned tea producing plant won the first place from among the large-scale tea factories in Sri Lanka.
On this occasion, the Chairman of the factory Navaratne Pilapitiya was offered a special award in appreciation of his service rendered by him during his lifetime on behalf of the tea industry.
“Tea with Nipun” would like to take this opportunity to forward heart-full Gratitude to Mr. Pilapitiya for His Valiant Effort to Uplift Pure Ceylon Tea All Around The World.
View More Tea Articles + Latest News: https://www.teawithnipun.com/
References
1.About Mr. Pilapitiya: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190922/business-times/the-last-scion-in-the-emergence-of-the-low-country-smallholder-tea-industry-368993.html?fbclid=IwAR3NxYIDCyLP_WTZQSLZ3OlOYpNTmIOUv5_AGFOFMv5hd7w-oJioZyFaF3M
2. Image Source: http://www.ft.lk/business/New-Vithanakande-Tea-Factory-improves-all-time-record-for-OP1-Grade/34-670100
3. More Info: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/New-Vithanakanda-Tea-Factory-wins-Best-Tea-Factory-Award-142351.html