Photographer Marco Rutten was given a unique look behind the scenes at the tea plantations of Bogawantalawa in the Golden Valley. From fields and factories to the villages where families live, these images reveal the pride, struggles, and resilience of Sri Lanka’s tea workers.
The series, part of the long-term project Behind our Daily Food, urges us to look beyond the tea in our cups and become aware of the stories and lives behind this daily product. Because change starts with awareness – and a cup of tea tastes betterwith understanding.
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Tea Leaves and Future Dreams documents the quiet transformation within Sri Lanka’s tea industry in the Central Highlands. Women have long been the backbone of tea production, working under colonial-era conditions. Today, signs of change emerge – through local initiatives, microcredit, and shifting aspirations among younger generations. As women take on leadership roles and young people seek futures beyond the plantations, the series offers a glimpse behind the picturesque landscapes.
