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A time line of History of Ceylon Tea
| 1824 | A tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. (non- commercial) |
| 1839 | Establishment of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce |
| 1854 | Establishment of the Planters' Association of Ceylon |
| 1867 | James Taylor planted the first 19 acres of tea in Loolecondera Estate near Kandy, Ceylon and this marked the birth of tea industry in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) |
| 1872 | First sale of Loolecondera tea in Kandy |
| 1873 | Export of Sri Lanka's first tea consignment of 23 lbs from Loolecondera Estate to London |
| 1876 | Founding of the first Broking firm John Brothers and Co. |
| 1877 | Manufacture of first "SIROCCO" tea drier by Samuel C. Davidson |
| 1880 | Manufacture of first tea rolling machine by John Walker and Co. |
| 1883 | The first public Colombo Auction was held at the premises of Somerville & Co.on 30th July, 1883, under the auspices of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce |
| 1884 | Construction of a Central Tea Factory on Fairyland Estate (Pedro) in Nuwara-Eliya |
| 1891 | Ceylon Tea established a record price of Rs.36.15 per lb at the London Tea Auctions |
| 1892 | James Taylor, aged 57 years, died in Ceylon on 2nd May, 1892 |
| 1894 | Formation of the Colombo Tea Traders' Association |
| 1896 | Colombo Brokers' Association was formed |
| 1915 | Mr. Thomas Amarasuriya, first Ceylonese to be appointed as Chairman of the Planters' Association |
| 1925 | Establishment of Tea Research Institute |
| 1927 | Sri Lanka's tea production exceeded 100,000 metric tons. Sri Lanka's tea exports exceeded 100,000 metric tons |
| 1932 | Formation of The Ceylon Tea Propaganda Board. Export of poor quality tea was prohibited |
| 1934 | World's largest tea bush was found in Ceylon at Battawatta Group, Madulsima. It had a diameter of 24 feet and a circumference of 67 feet. Four pounds of green leaf were plucked from it on one day |
| 1935 | Set up the International Tea Market Expansion Board (ITMEB) in which Ceylon was a founder member |
| 1938 | The Tea Research Institute commenced work on vegetative propagation at St. Coombs Estate, Thalawakele |
| 1940 | Biological control of the leaf eating Tea Tortrix Caterpillar by the Tea Research Institute |
| 1941 | First Ceylonese Tea Broking house, M/s Pieris and Abeywardena was established |
| 1944 | Ceylon Estate Employers' Federation was established |
| 1951 | Export Duty on tea was introduced from 1st October, 1951 |
| 1955 | First clonal tea fields came into bearing. |
| 1958 | Formation of the State Plantations Corporation |
| 1959 | Ad Valorem Tax was introduced on 1st June 1959 for teas sold at the Colombo Auctions |
| 1961 | Sri Lanka's registered tea extent exceeded 200,000 hectares. Sri Lanka's tea production exceeded 200,000 metric tons |
| 1962 | Sri Lanka's tea exports exceeded 200,000 metric tons |
| 1963 | Production and exports of Instant Teas commenced |
| 1965 | Sri Lanka became the World's largest tea exporter for the first time |
| 1966 | First International Tea Convention was held to celebrate 100 years of Tea Industry |
| 1972 | State takeover of privately owned estates |
| 1975 | Nationalization of Rupee and sterling companies |
| 1976 | Sri Lanka Tea Board was established. Formation of Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB). Establishment of the Tea Small Holding Development Authority (TSHDA). Exports of tea bags commenced |
| 1980 | Sri Lanka's participation at Moscow Olympics as official supplier of tea |
| 1981 | Import of teas for blending and re-exports was introduced |
| 1982 | Production and Exports of Green tea commenced. Sri Lanka's participation at 12th Commonwealth games at Brisbane as official supplier of tea |
| 1983 | Centennial year of the Colombo Tea Auctions. Production of CTC teas commenced in Sri Lanka |
| 1987 | Sri Lanka's participation in 'Expo 88' as official supplierof tea in Australia |
| 1992 | Sri Lanka completes 125 years in her Tea Industry. An international convention was held in Colombo to mark the occation. Formation of the Tea Research Board. Abolition of the Export Duty on 21st December, 1992. Abolition of the Ad Valorem Tax on 21st December, 1992 |
| 1993 | Privatisation of the management of Government owned tea estates |
| 1996 | Sri Lanka's tea production exceeded 250,000 metric tons |
| 1997 | Tea Exports reached 250,000 metric tons |
| 2000 | Tea production exceeded 300,000 metric tons |
| 2001 | Commencement of on-line sales of tea by Forbes and Walker Ltd., at the Colombo Tea Auctions. Establishment of a Tea Museum at Kandy |
| 2002 | Tea Association of Sri Lanka was formed |