The Aroma Route Journey
Founded in Atulugama, Bandaragama, Sri Lanka, Aroma Route brings you the exquisite experience of hand-roasted coffee, infusing every sip with organic flavor and a unique aroma.
A Rich History of Coffee Cultivation in Sri Lanka
The history of coffee in Sri Lanka dates back to the early 19th century, a time when the end of slavery in the West Indies opened up new opportunities for wage labor on plantations. Sri Lanka, with its favorable climate, emerged as an ideal location for coffee cultivation. Though the Dutch and indigenous inhabitants had already planted coffee, it was not until British colonization that the crop began to flourish on a larger scale.
According to Anthony Bertolacci, in the early 1800s, the British-controlled coastal areas of Sri Lanka exported between 190 and 1,080 candies (48-274 tonnes) of coffee annually. Bertolacci noted, “Its coffee is excellent, when it has not been gathered unripe, and when proper care is taken when drying it.” Unfortunately, many local farmers lacked the knowledge and techniques needed to produce high-quality coffee, often picking the beans too early and improperly drying them.
The first successful large-scale coffee plantation was established by George Bird near Kandy in the 1820s. With an 80-hectare grant and a tax-free loan from the colonial government, Bird laid the foundation for the industry. However, the challenges were significant, as most planters had little experience in tropical agriculture. A striking 95% of estate superintendents were Scots, many of whom were recruited from Aberdeen, yet most early plantations faced failures.
Aroma Route began its journey in 2022, serving a select group of coffee enthusiasts in Sri Lanka. Today, we proudly share our exceptional coffee with the world, available on shelves in the United Kingdom, USA, and Saudi Arabia.
Join us on this journey of aromatic greatness, and savor the rich heritage of Sri Lankan coffee in every cup!