We're thrilled to share some extraordinary news with our tea-loving community: our Panilkanda Golden Wiry Threads (FBOPF EXSP 1) has earned Highly Commended status at The Leafies 2023, the UK's premier international tea awards.
For a tea estate from Sri Lanka's Ruhuna region competing against the world's finest tea producers, this recognition represents not just an award, but validation of everything we stand for: quality, freshness, sustainability, and the expertise of our 1,800+ partner farmers.
What Are The Leafies Tea Awards?
The Leafies, organized by the UK Tea Academy in collaboration with Fortnum & Mason, represent the pinnacle of international tea recognition. Launched in 2022, these awards promote integrity, excellence, and collaboration within the global tea industry.
Winning at The Leafies isn't just about prestige—though that matters. It means your tea has been blind-tasted and judged by some of the world's most knowledgeable tea experts, from master blenders to sommeliers, educators to retailers. Each tea is evaluated on appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall quality.
The competition is fierce. Hundreds of teas from around the world competed for recognition in 2023. Making it to the Highly Commended list puts Panilkanda among an elite group of tea producers who have demonstrated exceptional quality and craftsmanship.
The Journey: From Ruhuna to Recognition
Our journey to The Leafies began long before we entered the competition. It started in the tea gardens near the Sinharaja rainforest, where generations of tea farmers have perfected their craft. It continued through countless harvest mornings, careful processing sessions, and an unwavering commitment to quality over quantity.
Panilkanda Golden Wiry Threads—technically graded as FBOPF EXSP 1 (Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings - Extra Special)—represents the finest expression of Ruhuna tea. The "golden wiry" descriptor refers to the beautiful golden tips visible throughout the tea, young tender leaves that add natural sweetness and complexity to the full-bodied Ruhuna character.
Creating this tea requires:
- Precise hand-plucking of the finest leaves and tips
- Careful withering to develop flavor compounds
- Expert rolling to shape the characteristic "wiry" leaf structure
- Controlled oxidation to achieve optimal flavor development
- Immediate packaging to preserve freshness
Every step matters. Every decision impacts the final cup.
Highly Commended: What It Means
When we first entered The Leafies in 2023, we weren't sure what to expect. We knew our tea was exceptional—our customers had been telling us so for years. But international competition against legendary estates and master tea makers? That was daunting.
Being named Highly Commended felt like vindication. The judges recognized what we'd been working toward: a Ceylon black tea that honored tradition while pushing boundaries, that showcased the Ruhuna region's unique terroir, and that arrived fresh enough to taste the difference.
Looking at the 2023 winners list, we found ourselves in extraordinary company. From Japanese gyokuro to Darjeeling moonshine, from Taiwanese oolongs to specialty Ceylon teas—the Highly Commended category represented the best of the best from across the global tea industry.
The Highly Commended designation has put Panilkanda on the map. Tea buyers have noticed. Retailers have reached out. Most importantly, it has given us confidence that we're on the right path—that our commitment to freshness, quality, and ethical farming practices resonates not just with our loyal customers, but with the world's leading tea experts.
What Makes Panilkanda Golden Wiry Threads Special?
You might wonder: what exactly did the judges taste that earned this recognition?
Appearance: The dry leaf itself tells a story. Well-twisted, wiry black leaves interspersed with distinctive golden tips create visual appeal that hints at the quality within.
Aroma: Rich, malty notes emerge from the dry leaf, becoming more complex when brewed—caramel sweetness, dried fruit depth, and subtle spice notes layer together.
Flavor: This is where Golden Wiry Threads truly shines. The tea delivers classic Ruhuna full-bodied character—bold, malty, satisfying—but with added complexity from those golden tips. Natural sweetness balances the strength, while subtle fruity and caramel notes add dimension. The finish is long and clean, inviting another sip.
Versatility: Whether you enjoy it strong with milk and sugar or lighter and black, whether hot or iced, Golden Wiry Threads adapts while maintaining its distinctive character.
But perhaps most importantly: it's fresh. When judges evaluated our tea at The Leafies, they were tasting leaves that had been harvested, processed, and shipped within weeks. That freshness—that vibrancy—makes all the difference and sets us apart in a market where tea often sits in warehouses for months or even years.
The Impact on Our Farming Community
While we celebrate this award, it's important to remember who really made it possible: the 1,800+ tea farming families we work with across the Ruhuna region.
These farmers bring generations of knowledge to their work. They understand the precise moment to pluck for optimal flavor. They know how weather patterns affect the tea bush. They've perfected the art of handling leaves so gently that quality remains intact from garden to factory.
International recognition like The Leafies directly benefits these families:
- Increased demand means better prices for their harvest
- Global visibility opens new market opportunities
- Recognition validates their traditional skills in a modern context
- Younger generations see tea farming as a viable, respected profession
- Communities gain pride knowing their product is world-class
When you choose Panilkanda, you're not just buying award-recognized tea—you're supporting an entire community committed to excellence.
What This Means for Tea Lovers
For our customers and tea enthusiasts discovering Panilkanda for the first time, this award offers assurance: you're getting genuinely exceptional tea, validated by independent experts at one of the world's most prestigious tea competitions.
But awards alone don't make great tea. What matters is what you experience in your cup.
When you brew Panilkanda Golden Wiry Threads, you're tasting:
- The misty mornings in the Ruhuna tea gardens
- The pristine environment near Sinharaja rainforest
- The careful hands that selected each leaf
- The expertise of processors who've perfected their craft
- The commitment to getting it to you fresh
You're tasting tea the way it was meant to be: vibrant, complex, memorable.
The Ruhuna Region: Ceylon's Bold Secret
The Ruhuna region in southern Sri Lanka has been producing exceptional tea for over 150 years. Unlike the high-grown regions known for delicate, bright teas, Ruhuna produces full-bodied, malty black teas with distinctive character—the kind that stands up beautifully to milk, yet reveals surprising complexity when enjoyed on its own.
Our tea gardens benefit from:
- Rich, fertile soil enriched by centuries of natural decomposition
- Ideal growing conditions with consistent warmth and rainfall
- Proximity to pristine Sinharaja rainforest ensuring clean air and pure water
- Traditional growing methods passed down through generations
- Expert hand-plucking that ensures only the finest leaves are harvested
This unique terroir, combined with our farmers' expertise and our commitment to rapid processing and delivery, creates tea that stands out on the world stage.
Looking Forward: Building on Success
Earning Highly Commended status at The Leafies isn't an endpoint—it's inspiration to continue improving and expanding. We're working on:
Expanding our specialty range: Developing more unique, small-batch teas that showcase different aspects of Ruhuna terroir and our farmers' skills.
Enhancing sustainability: Implementing more regenerative agriculture practices that protect the Sinharaja ecosystem and ensure tea farming remains viable for future generations.
Improving freshness: Continuously optimizing our supply chain to reduce the time from harvest to delivery, ensuring you receive the freshest possible tea.
Supporting our farmers: Additional training programs, fair compensation structures, and community development initiatives.
Sharing our story: Helping more tea lovers around the world discover the exceptional quality of fresh Ceylon tea from ethical, sustainable sources.
Experience Award-Recognized Ceylon Tea
We invite you to taste what The Leafies judges recognized. Whether you're a long-time Ceylon tea enthusiast or just beginning to explore Sri Lankan tea, Panilkanda Golden Wiry Threads offers an exceptional experience.
Each package arrives fresh from our estate, carefully sealed to preserve the flavors that earned international recognition. We include brewing instructions to help you get the perfect cup, though this tea is forgiving—it delivers excellence whether you're a casual drinker or a dedicated tea ceremonialist.
Thank You to Our Community
We want to thank everyone who has supported Panilkanda on this journey:
To our customers: Your enthusiastic feedback and repeat orders motivated us to enter The Leafies in the first place. You believed in our tea before the awards came, and your loyalty means everything to us.
To our farming partners: Your expertise and dedication make everything possible. This recognition belongs to you. Your generations of knowledge, your early mornings in the tea gardens, your careful attention to every leaf—that's what the judges recognized.
To the judges and organizers at The Leafies and UK Tea Academy: Thank you for creating a platform that recognizes excellence and brings visibility to quality tea producers worldwide. Your work elevates the entire industry.
To Fortnum & Mason: Your partnership with The Leafies helps consumers discover exceptional teas and supports small producers like us in reaching new audiences.
Earning Highly Commended at The Leafies 2023 represents more than competitive success. It's proof that focusing on quality, freshness, and ethical farming practices creates tea that stands out on the world stage.
Every cup of Panilkanda tells a story—of Sri Lankan heritage, of skilled farmers, of pristine growing conditions near the Sinharaja rainforest, and of a commitment to delivering the very best. Now, that story includes international recognition from the UK's premier tea awards.
We invite you to be part of this story. Experience the award-recognized quality, support ethical tea farming, and discover why fresh Ceylon tea from the Ruhuna region deserves a place in your daily routine.
This is just the beginning. We're more motivated than ever to continue producing exceptional tea, supporting our farming communities, and sharing the magic of fresh Ceylon tea with the world.
Have questions about our award-recognized teas or want to learn more about The Leafies? Contact us or follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes content from our tea estate near the Sinharaja rainforest.