Our Story
"When you taste Baronchi tea, you taste more than a century of Sri Lankan heritage."
"When you taste Baronchi tea, you taste more than
a century of Sri Lankan heritage."
A pioneer in southern Sri Lanka — then known as Ceylon — P. L. Baronchi introduced tea cultivation to a region that would become renowned for producing a strong, characterful, malty brew.
Long before ethical sourcing became an industry term, Mr. Buddhadasa's estates began accepting green leaf from small-scale growers — financially empowering hundreds of farming families who would otherwise have had no market access.
Chatu Lokuge — third generation — brings Ceylon tea to Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Canada, South Korea, Germany and China.
Premium · Ethical · Single-origin
Ceylon tea, direct from our family estates in Sri Lanka.
The full story
P. L. Baronchi was a pioneer in introducing tea cultivation to southern Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon. His youngest son, P. L. Buddhadasa, carried that legacy forward with fresh ambition, investing astutely in tea and earning a reputation for both quality and business acumen throughout the twentieth century.
Mr. Buddhadasa opened and planted the Allen Valley and Andaradeniya Group in the Morawak Korale district, constructing state-of-the-art tea factories on each property. He went on to own Semidale Estate in Akurassa, and built Mahakanda Tea Factory in Neluwa — one of the largest bought leaf factories in the country.
Long before ethical sourcing became a business priority, Mr. Buddhadasa pioneered the bought leaf concept, where a privately owned estate accepts green leaf from small-scale growers, financially empowering farming families who would otherwise have had no market access.
Today, Mr. Buddhadasa's son Chatu Lokuge continues this heritage as a Ceylon tea exporter from Sri Lanka, bringing the family's much-loved teas to wholesale partners worldwide.
Three generations · One commitment
Pioneer tea cultivator in southern Sri Lanka, introducing tea cultivation to a region renowned for producing a strong, malty brew.
Opens Allen Valley and Andaradeniya Group in Morawak Korale and constructs state-of-the-art tea factories. Acquires Semidale Estate in Akurassa and builds Mahakanda Tea Factory in Neluwa.
Financially empowering hundreds of small-scale growers, long before ethical sourcing became an industry priority.
Chatu Lokuge establishes Baronchi Tea as a wholesale supplier, initially in Australia and New Zealand, expanding to UK, USA, Canada, South Korea, Germany and China.
Baronchi Tea continues to supply premium, ethical, single-origin Ceylon tea to a select group of wholesale partners worldwide.
Request a sample pack at a nominal cost — fully reimbursed as double credit on your first order.
Request a Sample Pack Wholesale Info