COLOMBO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Tea Board has warned that it will continue to take stern action against those engaged in contaminating pure Ceylon Tea.
Those indulging in contamination of this iconic brand of tea could be suspended from doing business for three months, local media reports quoting Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda on Wednesday.
Molligoda told the local Daily FT that, Ceylon Tea used to be adulterated with sugar syrup and molasses. But the Tea Board had put an end to the menace. Tea inspectors are now undertaking regular checks at the factory level and errant manufacturers are taken to task, the official said.
In raids conducted so far, the number of factories found to be contaminating tea has drastically dropped.
"The situation is under control at present," Molligoda said, adding that the Sri Lanka Tea Board would not compromise on leaf standards.
Last year, Iraq was the main export destination for Ceylon Tea, followed by Turkey and Russia. Other export destinations included China, Libya, Azerbaijan, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. There was also a significant growth in exports to India, the United States and Germany compared to 2018.
