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Introduction
Tea, coffee, spices and nuts are among the most reliable categories in any Sri Lankan shop, supermarket or kitchen. Almost every household buys them, every restaurant cooks with them, and every hotel serves them. They sell steadily all year and peak before festivals, when families stock up for celebrations and gifts.
We supply four groups of food products wholesale under brands we own, alongside selected partner food brands from other companies: Hakgala Ceylon tea, Desco coffee premixes, Udari cashews and spices, and fresh produce and plantation commodities from our own plantations. Because we own the brands, and in many cases grow the raw materials, we can tell buyers exactly what they are stocking.
This article is a buyer’s guide to each brand. It explains the products, the pack formats available for wholesale customers, how to store them, who buys them and how retailers and food service customers can sell or use them well. It ends with an illustrative example and answers to common questions.
Hakgala Ceylon tea
What it is
Hakgala is our Ceylon tea brand. Hakgala tea comes from our own plantations in Sri Lanka and is produced under local and international certifications. Ceylon tea is known around the world for its bright colour, brisk taste and fine aroma, and tea remains one of the most important drinks in Sri Lankan life, served at home, at work and to every guest.
The range
| Product | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Desco Classic 3-in-1 | Smooth, balanced everyday coffee with creamer and sugar | Supermarkets, groceries, offices, hotels |
| Desco Cappuccino | Creamy, foamy café-style cup | Supermarkets, cafés, hotel rooms |
| Desco Ginger Coffee | Part of our Ceylon spiced range, with warming ginger | Supermarkets, groceries, Ayurveda and specialty shops |
| Desco Iced Coffee with Milk | Made for cold drinks | Supermarkets, cafés, juice bars |
| Type | Hakgala grades and styles | Character | Typical customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black tea | BOP, OP, BOPF and Dust 1 | From bold, wiry leaf (OP) to strong, quick-brewing small grades (BOPF, Dust 1) | Supermarkets, groceries, restaurants, hotels, offices |
| Green tea | Chun Mee and green tea fannings | Fresh, light and grassy | Supermarkets, health-conscious shoppers, cafés |
| White tea | Silver tips | Delicate, sweet and rare | Premium retailers, gift shops, hotels |
| Oolong | Medium-oxidised twisted leaf | Smooth, floral and complex | Specialty retailers, cafés, hotels |
| Flavoured teas | English Breakfast, English Afternoon, Irish Breakfast, Earl Grey, smoked tea, Spiced Masala, Rose & French Vanilla, Black Tea with Berries, Jasmine Green, Mint Green, Lemongrass Green, Lychee White and Hand-Made White | Natural flavourings on a Ceylon tea base | Supermarkets, gift shops, hotels, cafés |
Understanding tea grades
Tea grades describe the size and appearance of the leaf, not quality alone:
- OP (Orange Pekoe): long, wiry leaves that brew a lighter, more aromatic cup;
- BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe): smaller broken leaves that brew a stronger, brisker cup;
- BOPF (Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings): small particles that brew quickly to a strong, coloured cup, popular for everyday milk tea; and
- Dust 1: the finest grade, brewing very fast and strong, ideal for tea bags and strong milk tea.
Retailers can use these simple descriptions to help shoppers choose: stronger, smaller grades for milk tea, and larger leaf grades for plain tea.
Wholesale formats
Hakgala is available in retail packs for shelves, bulk packs for food service and catering packs for hotels and offices. Pack sizes and carton quantities are confirmed in each quotation.
You can explore the full Hakgala range on our Ceylon Tea page.
Desco coffee premixes
What it is
Desco is our coffee premix brand, marketed by Dsigngo Marketing. Desco blends coffee from our own plantations with creamer, sugar and, in the spiced range, Ceylon spices, and seals each serving fresh in a single sachet. Desco is produced under local and international certifications.
Coffee premixes are popular because they are fast, consistent and easy: just add hot water. They suit busy households, offices, schools, hotels and anywhere people want a reliable cup without a coffee machine.
The range
Wholesale formats
Desco is available in single sachets, family packs and catering packs. Single sachets suit hotel rooms, offices and impulse sales at shop counters; family packs suit supermarket shelves; catering packs suit offices, canteens and food service.
Typical nutrition
Typical values for one 20 g sachet of a classic 3-in-1 coffee premix are about 85 kcal, 2.5 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, 0.6 g protein and around 50 mg caffeine. The values for each Desco product are shown on its pack.
You can explore the Desco range on our World of Coffee page.
Udari Nuts & Spices
What it is
Udari Nuts & Spices is our brand of cashews and Sri Lankan spices, marketed by Raiden Marketing. Our cashew plantation supplies the Udari cashew range.
Cashews
- Udari Cashew Nuts: whole natural kernels, not roasted, salted or flavoured, selected for size, pale colour and a sweet, buttery taste. Ideal for kaju curry, biriyani, sweets and cashew paste.
- Udari Oven Roasted Cashews: whole cashews roasted in dry heat until golden and crunchy, never fried in oil. Ideal for snacking and gifting.
Both contain cashew nuts, a tree nut allergen.
Spices
The Udari spice range includes 15 products for everyday Sri Lankan cooking:
| Group | Products |
|---|---|
| Curry powders | Curry Powder, Roasted Curry Powder, Meat Curry Powder |
| Fish curry mixes | Red Fish Curry, Milky Fish Curry |
| Masalas | Chicken Masala, Fish Masala, Biriyani Masala |
| Chilli | Chilli Powder, Chilli Pieces, Roasted Chilli |
| Single spices | Turmeric, Pepper, Mustard, Cinnamon |
Wholesale formats
Udari products are available in retail packs for shelves and bulk packs for restaurants, hotels and caterers. Pack sizes and carton quantities are confirmed in each quotation.
You can explore the full range on our Udari Nuts & Spices page.
Fresh produce and plantation commodities
Alongside our brands, we supply produce from our own plantations, subject to season and availability:
| Product | Description | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Scotch bonnet chillies | Fiery, fruity Capsicum chinense chillies, picked ripe | Restaurants, hotels, sauce and pickle makers |
| Golden pumpkins | Sweet, golden-fleshed pumpkins, cured for keeping | Restaurants, hotels, caterers, wholesalers |
| Raw cashew nuts | Dried raw nuts in shell | Cashew processors and traders |
| Green coffee | Arabica and Robusta, unroasted | Roasters, cafés and traders |
You can read more about our crops on our Agriculture page.
Partner food brands
As well as our own brands, we distribute selected food brands from other companies, chosen to complement Hakgala, Desco and Udari rather than compete with them. Every partner brand is checked for quality, complete and compliant labels, honest claims and reliable supply before we add it. Partner products can be combined with our own brands on one order, one delivery and one invoice. Ask us for the current list of partner food brands in the categories you stock.
Storage advice for food products
Good storage protects quality on the shelf and in the kitchen. We recommend:
| Product | How to store | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Hakgala tea | Cool, dry place, away from strong smells and sunlight; keep packs closed | Moisture and odours from spices, soaps or chemicals |
| Desco premixes | Cool, dry place; keep away from steam and humidity | Sachets near kettles or wet areas |
| Udari cashews | Cool, dry, dark place; close packs after opening | Heat and sunlight, which can make nuts stale |
| Udari spices | Cool, dry place, packs tightly closed | Steam, humidity and direct sunlight |
| Scotch bonnets | Refrigerated, in ventilated containers | Bruising and moisture |
| Golden pumpkins | Cool, dry, airy place in single layers | Soft spots and damp floors |
Always sell older stock first (“first expired, first out”), and check best-before dates when receiving deliveries. Blog Article 3 explains storage and labelling in more detail.
Why tea, coffee, spices and nuts are strong categories
For a retailer or food service buyer, these four categories share qualities that make them reliable:
- Everyday demand. Tea is drunk several times a day in most Sri Lankan homes, and spices are used in almost every meal. Shoppers replace them regularly, which means steady repeat sales.
- Long shelf life. Properly packed tea, coffee premixes, spices and dry nuts keep well compared with fresh foods, so stock losses are lower.
- Festive peaks. Spices, cashews, tea and coffee all sell strongly before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Ramadan and Eid, Deepavali and Christmas, when families cook special meals and welcome guests.
- Gifting. Tea, coffee and cashews make popular gifts, for families and for corporate customers.
- Growing coffee culture. Coffee drinking is growing in Sri Lanka, especially among younger people and in cities, and the country is rediscovering its coffee heritage, celebrating 200 years of coffee in 2025.
- Tourism. Hotels, guest houses and restaurants serving visitors need tea, coffee and spices every day, and visitors often buy Ceylon tea and spices as souvenirs.
Building a balanced food range
A good range gives shoppers choice without filling shelves with slow sellers. One simple approach is “good, better, best”:
| Level | What it means | Example from our brands |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday essentials | Products most shoppers buy regularly | Hakgala BOPF, Udari Curry Powder, Udari Chilli Powder, Desco Classic 3-in-1 |
| Popular extras | Products that add variety and higher basket value | Hakgala flavoured teas, Udari Roasted Curry Powder, Desco Cappuccino, Udari Cashew Nuts |
| Premium and gift lines | Special products for treats, guests and gifts | Hakgala silver tips and oolong, Udari Oven Roasted Cashews, festive gift packs |
Most shops start with the essentials, add popular extras once they see what sells, and bring in premium lines before festive seasons. We can suggest a starter range based on the type and size of your shop.
Seasonal planning for food categories
| Season | What sells more | Suggested action |
|---|---|---|
| Before Sinhala and Tamil New Year (March–April) | Spices, cashews, tea, coffee | Increase stock four to six weeks ahead; build festive displays |
| Vesak and Poson | Tea and coffee for dansal and gatherings | Offer bulk and catering packs |
| Ramadan and Eid | Spices, biriyani masala, cashews | Stock masalas and cashews for festive cooking |
| Deepavali | Spices, cashews, sweets ingredients | Feature cashews and spices together |
| Christmas and year end | Cashews, tea, coffee, gift packs | Promote gift packs for families and corporate buyers |
| Tourist seasons | Tea, coffee and spices for hotels and souvenirs | Hotels increase guest-room and restaurant supplies |
Sharing your expected seasonal needs with us early helps us plan stock, so you are not left with empty shelves at the busiest times.
Checking food deliveries
When a delivery arrives, a quick check protects you and your customers:
- count the cartons against the delivery note;
- check that outer cartons are dry, clean and undamaged;
- check product names, pack sizes and best-before dates;
- check that cashew and spice packs are sealed and free of damage; and
- report any problem to us straight away, with a photo if possible, so we can put it right.
Selling tips for retailers
- Group by occasion. Place Hakgala tea, Desco coffee and Udari cashews near each other as a “tea time” or “guest” display, especially before New Year and festive seasons.
- Offer a range of pack sizes. Value-conscious shoppers appreciate smaller packs, while larger families look for bigger packs.
- Use the counter. Single Desco sachets and small packs of Udari Oven Roasted Cashews sell well as impulse items near the till.
- Explain the grades. A simple shelf note explaining strong tea grades for milk tea and leaf grades for plain tea helps shoppers choose.
- Build festive gift packs. Combine tea, coffee and cashews in gift baskets for New Year, Christmas and corporate gifting.
Tips for restaurants, hotels and cafés
- Standardise recipes. Using the same Udari spices in every batch keeps curries tasting the same, whichever cook is on duty.
- Choose bulk packs. Bulk and catering packs reduce packaging waste and cost per use.
- Offer a tea menu. A small selection of Hakgala black, green and flavoured teas adds value for guests.
- Guest rooms and meetings. Desco single sachets and Hakgala tea are ideal for hotel rooms, offices and meeting rooms.
Insights Article 4 explains our food service supply in more detail.
Quick product guides for shop and kitchen staff
Staff who understand a product sell it more confidently and use it better. These short guides can be shared with shop and kitchen teams.
Brewing Hakgala black tea
Use about one teaspoon of tea (2 g to 3 g) per cup and freshly boiled water. Brew small grades such as BOPF and Dust 1 for two to three minutes, and larger leaf grades such as OP for three to five minutes. Add milk and sugar to taste; stronger grades hold up best with milk.
Making a cup of Desco
Empty one sachet into a cup, add around 150 ml to 180 ml of freshly boiled water and stir well. For iced coffee, dissolve Desco Iced Coffee with Milk in a little hot water, then pour over plenty of ice.
Getting the best from Udari spices
Fry whole and roasted spices briefly in oil to release their aroma, and add ground spices with onions and garlic before adding liquid. Keep spice packs tightly closed, away from steam, so they stay fragrant and free-flowing.
Quality and certifications
Hakgala tea and Desco coffee are produced under local and international certifications covering quality and food safety. Our packs carry the information required by Sri Lanka’s food labelling regulations, including product names, ingredients, net contents and dates. Before dispatch, every order is checked for correct products, quantities, pack condition and dates.
Illustrative example
The following example is illustrative and does not describe a real customer.
A hotel opening a new restaurant needs spices, tea, coffee and cashews. The purchasing manager asks us for catering packs of Udari Curry Powder, Roasted Curry Powder and Chilli Powder, Hakgala BOPF for the breakfast buffet, Desco Classic 3-in-1 sachets for guest rooms and Udari Cashew Nuts for curries and desserts.
After tasting samples, the head chef standardises the restaurant’s curry recipes around Udari spices. We agree a fortnightly delivery schedule, and before the tourist season the hotel increases its order of Desco sachets and Hakgala flavoured teas for guest rooms.
Frequently asked questions
Which food brands do you supply wholesale?
Hakgala Ceylon tea, Desco coffee premixes and Udari Nuts & Spices, plus fresh produce and plantation commodities from our own plantations.
Do you supply bulk packs for restaurants?
Yes. Udari spices and cashews, Hakgala tea and Desco coffee are available in bulk or catering formats for food service customers.
Are your products certified?
Hakgala tea and Desco coffee are produced under local and international certifications covering quality and food safety.
Do Udari products contain allergens?
Udari Cashew Nuts and Udari Oven Roasted Cashews contain cashew nuts, a tree nut allergen. Allergen information is shown on each pack.
Can I order a mixed carton?
Mixed orders are possible for many products. Ask us about mixed cartons when you request a quotation.
Do you show wholesale prices online?
No. We provide a written quotation based on the products, quantities and delivery you need.
Can you help us plan a starter range?
Yes. Tell us about your shop or kitchen, your customers and your space, and we will suggest a starter range of essentials, with popular extras and premium lines to add later.
Do you supply festive gift packs?
We can help retailers and corporate buyers put together gift packs combining Hakgala tea, Desco coffee and Udari cashews for festive seasons. Ask us early, so stock can be planned.
Conclusion
Tea, coffee, cashews and spices are everyday essentials and festive favourites, which makes them dependable sellers for retailers and essential ingredients for kitchens. Hakgala, Desco and Udari give trade customers trusted brands with clear information, practical pack formats and consistent quality, backed by our own plantations.
Ready to add our food brands to your shelves or kitchen? Contact us for samples and a quotation.
Sources
- Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka, tea grade nomenclature: https://teasrilanka.org
- Hakgala Ceylon Tea, Desco and Udari product information (Dsigngo Group brand pages): https://dsigngo.com/ceylon-tea/, https://dsigngo.com/coffee-home/ and https://dsigngo.com/nuts-and-spices/
- FatSecret and FairPrice product listings for 20 g 3-in-1 coffee premix sachets (typical nutrition values)
- USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Sri Lanka food labelling and advertising regulations: https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/sri-lanka-sri-lanka-enacts-new-legislation-food-labeling-and-advertising
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