Peekoh Tea: Smoke and Bitters

July 20, 2025

This edition of the newsletter is sponsored by

Hello everyone,

Remember how I said we would talk about a very amazing spot in Sri Lanka last time? Here we are!

Nestled within a coconut grove on Pehebiya Beach in Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka, Smoke & Bitters celebrates the rich abundance of local ingredients. It blends traditional and modern techniques to create unique, house-made flavors. What’s more, Smoke & Bitters ranks # 14 on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025!

The story of Smoke & Bitters creating their signature Mai Chai—a spice-infused twist on the classic Mai Tai using Peekoh’s Blend #10—perfectly captures the magic that happens when passionate creators collaborate. Reading about their house-made bitters, locally sourced spirits, and those stunning Rakshasa mask glasses honestly gave me chills.

This isn’t just about cocktails; it is about two brands elevating Sri Lanka’s incredible flavors to international recognition. Smoke & Bitters being ranked among the world’s best bars while staying true to their island roots? This is the kind of story that makes you want to book a flight immediately.

Consider this your official nudge to add Smoke & Bitters to your Sri Lanka bucket list.

We will have some more awesome stories to share from Sri Lanka soon, so stay tuned!

Don’t forget to share the stories with your friends, family, colleagues, or anyone who you feel would enjoy reading them.

Yours in tea,

teajourney.pub

By Diana Jendoubi

Peekoh Tea and Smoke and Bitters: Raising the Bar

Peekoh Tea founders Trevin de Silva and Vinod Malwatte felt that not enough high-quality Sri Lankan tea was being showcased to local consumers. “We wanted to focus on loose-leaf tea and slowing down. It would enable us to introduce Sri Lankans to the ritualistic side of tea drinking. where it takes time to brew a cup of tea,” says Vinod.

In the Sri Lanka special issue, Tea Journey writer Diana Jendoubi takes you on a tour of enchanting neighborhoods in Colombo, including Cinnamon Gardens, showcasing some outstanding boutique tea shops and hidden garden cafes.

Check it out here:

By Diana Jendoubi

When In Colombo… Make Time For Tea

Enchanting neighborhoods feature picturesque tree-lined avenues and colonial architecture, housing boutique tea shops and hidden garden cafes serving specialty teas from the country’s finest producers. Colombo’s new generation of environmentally and socially conscious businesses emphasizes innovative teas crafted with care.

From Colombo, our Dan Bolton takes you to Badulla in the Uva tea-growing region, where Thomas Lipton cultivated the world’s most popular tea blend. Badulla’s high-grown broken orange pekoe has consistently earned the highest prices in tea auctions for over 150 years! In the article, Dan takes you to the Annual First Tea Festival, where farmers bring their tea harvest to the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara Temple for blessings.

You can read the article here:

By Dan Bolton

Badulla’s Annual First Tea Festival

In Badulla, Sri Lanka, farmers bring their first tea harvest to the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara Temple for blessings. Dan Bolton joins in the celebration on a visit to the island, enjoying the vibrant cultural experience it offers.

We will share more stories from our Destination Sri Lanka Special Issue soon. We will also soon take you on a journey to Armenia, where you can explore the unique Armenian herbal teas. So, watch out for our next newsletter.

If you aren’t already, please follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
It means a lot to us!

Until next time.

Bhavi Patel, Editor, Tea Journey Magazine

Bhavi Patel, known as Banjaran Foodie, is the editor of the Tea Journey Magazine and a distinguished tea and coffee expert with a background in dairy technology and brand building. As a trusted writer for renowned publications including Perfect Daily Grind, Barista, and STiR Magazines, she combines scientific expertise with storytelling to explore specialty beverages.

Share this newsletter with a friend
Subscribe now and save 30% for unlimited access to Tea Journey Magazine.

Bhavi Patel

Bhavi Patel, known as Banjaran Foodie, is a distinguished tea and coffee expert with a background in dairy technology and brand building. As a trusted writer for renowned publications including Perfect Daily Grind, Barista, and STiR Magazines, she combines scientific expertise with storytelling to explore specialty beverages.