In short: Adawatte Estate is a black tea plantation located on Adawatte Rd in Sri Lanka at 753 metres elevation, operated by Hapugastenne Plantations.
Adawatte Estate is a tea plantation situated on Adawatte Rd in Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 753 metres. The estate is operated by Hapugastenne Plantations and produces black tea. It holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, though no commercial buyers are currently recorded in trade databases.
Terroir & Climate
At 753 metres above sea level, Adawatte Estate occupies a mid-grown elevation in Sri Lanka's diverse tea landscape. Estates at this altitude typically experience moderate temperatures and a balance between the cooler conditions of high-grown regions and the warmth of the lowlands. This mid-elevation band generally supports steady growth cycles, with the interplay of monsoonal rainfall patterns and relative humidity shaping the rhythm of plucking throughout the year.
The latitude of approximately 7° North places the estate in Sri Lanka's southern tea-growing zones, where the southwest and northeast monsoons tend to create distinct wet and dry periods. Mid-grown estates in this climatic envelope often benefit from consistent moisture without the intense exposure of higher peaks, conditions that typically favour reliable yields and leaf development suitable for orthodox black tea manufacture.
Tea Produced
Adawatte Estate produces black tea, the dominant style in Sri Lanka's mid-grown zones. Teas from estates at this elevation typically yield a cup with medium body and a balance between the briskness associated with high-grown Ceylon teas and the fuller, maltier notes often found in low-grown leaf. The character tends toward accessibility, with moderate astringency and a clean finish, though specific flavour profiles depend on seasonal variation, plucking standards, and processing choices at the estate factory.
Operator
Hapugastenne Plantations operates Adawatte Estate and is recorded as managing one other tea estate in this directory. The company's portfolio places it among Sri Lanka's regional plantation operators, with responsibility for cultivation, processing, and quality oversight across its holdings.
Certifications & Ethics
Adawatte Estate is certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that monitors labour standards, environmental practices, and social conditions on member plantations. For buyers, ETP certification provides third-party assurance that the estate is subject to regular audits against the partnership's code of conduct, covering issues including wages, housing, freedom of association, and pesticide management. For workers, membership signals a commitment to continuous improvement in working and living conditions, backed by independent verification.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Adawatte Estate lies at 7.0489, 81.2026 in Adawatte Rd, Sri Lanka. Its 753 m elevation is the 138th highest of 421 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Hapugastenne Plantations, Shawlands — under 1 km away · Badulla District
- Madulsima Plantations, Battawatte — 4.9 km away · Uva Province
- Mahadowa Estate — 6.0 km away · Mahadowa Factory Road
- El Teb — 10 km away · Lunugala & Hewa Eliya (or Badulla North)
- Aruna, Passara Tea Shakthi, Aruna Passara — 12 km away · Uva Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Adawatte Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Adawatte Estate (753 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Adawatte Estate recorded 2,890 mm in 2025, 40% more than the 2,066 mm average across these estates: at the same height, local weather and exposure matter as much as elevation.
| Estate | Where | Elevation | Rain 2025 | Mean high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galpaya | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 754 m | 2,750 mm | 26.1 °C |
| Xuan\u0027En Wutai Changchen Tea Industry Co., Ltd. | Enshi City, China | 760 m | 1,627 mm | 21.7 °C |
| Carolyn Estate | Nilgiris-Wayanad. Tamil Nadu, India | 761 m | 2,024 mm | 27.8 °C |
| Monteviot | West Bengal, India | 744 m | 1,859 mm | 24.2 °C |
| Uplands | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 775 m | 2,071 mm | 26.7 °C |
Adawatte Estate Compared with Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Adawatte Estate is drier than 57% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 67% of the others by elevation; cooler than 62% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Adawatte Estate against the 420 other estates we map in Sri Lanka, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Adawatte Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 753 m | 290 m | 6 to 1,962 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,890 mm | 3,080 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 27.6 °C | 28.8 °C | 18.9 to 31.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.5 °C | 21.8 °C | 12.4 to 24.3 °C |
Observed Climate at Adawatte Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Adawatte Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,890 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (685 mm) and the driest was May (74 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.6 °C and overnight lows 19.5 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,890 mm |
| Wettest month | November (685 mm) |
| Driest month | May (74 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Adawatte Estate located?
Adawatte Estate is in Adawatte Rd, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.0489, 81.2026, at an elevation of about 753 metres.
Who operates Adawatte Estate?
Adawatte Estate is operated by Hapugastenne Plantations, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Adawatte Estate produce?
Adawatte Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
What certifications does Adawatte Estate hold?
Adawatte Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Adawatte Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,890 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (685 mm).
How does Adawatte Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Adawatte Estate recorded 2,890 mm in 2025, 40% more rain than the 2,066 mm average of estates at a similar elevation.
Data sources: public supply-chain disclosures (Ethical Tea Partnership member lists, Rainforest Alliance certificate holders and retailer supplier disclosures); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the estate’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); coordinates and elevations from geocoded records. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
