Ceylon, circa 1880
by W. L. H. Skeen & Co

The grade of tea is based on the altitude in which it was produced (normally the higher the altitude the finer the tea) and the state of the tea leaf (large pieces of unbroken leaves having the higher grade). This photograph, one of a series of 30 images taken by the firm run by the Scotish photographer William L. H. Skeen documenting the tea industry in Ceylon (currently Sri Lanka), shows a group of women sorting and grading tea leaves in preparation for packing and shipment.