Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory is a black-tea estate located in the B147 region of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 1,498 metres. The estate is operated by Agarapatana Plantations, a company with multiple holdings in Sri Lanka's tea sector. The factory processes leaf from this mid-elevation site in the Central Province.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,498 metres, Pita Ratmalie occupies what is typically classified as mid-grown territory in Sri Lanka's grading system, falling between the classic low-grown plains and the celebrated high-grown peaks above 1,200 metres. Estates at this elevation generally experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than low-country gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and encourage a balance between body and brightness in the cup.

The B147 region, situated in the Central Province near Agarapatana, tends to receive two monsoon periods annually—the south-west from May to September and the north-east from December to February—which typically shape a bimodal cropping calendar. Rainfall at this altitude is generally reliable but less intense than in higher zones, and mist cover is usually intermittent rather than persistent, factors that often yield teas with moderate astringency and a rounded mouthfeel relative to the brighter, more delicate liquors associated with estates above 1,800 metres.

Tea Produced

Pita Ratmalie produces black tea, the dominant style in Sri Lanka's Central Province. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks from estates at this elevation typically offer a medium body, balanced astringency, and a brisk, clean cup with moderate brightness—less delicate than high-grown Nuwara Eliya or Dimbula teas but generally more nuanced than the fuller, maltier profiles of low-grown Ruhuna leaf. Quality from this altitude band is often valued for blending, where it contributes consistency, colour, and a versatile flavour profile that complements both brighter and more robust components.

Operator

Agarapatana Plantations operates Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory and is recorded as managing three other estates in our directory, indicating a significant presence in the Central Province tea sector. Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) of this scale typically supply the Colombo auctions and maintain contracts with international packers and blenders, though specific buyer relationships for Pita Ratmalie have not been publicly disclosed.

Certifications & Ethics

Pita Ratmalie holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), a membership organisation that requires estates to meet standards covering labour rights, health and safety, environmental stewardship, and management practices. ETP certification involves regular independent audits and a commitment to continuous improvement, offering buyers a degree of assurance on social and environmental compliance and providing workers with access to grievance mechanisms and specified employment protections.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory lies at 6.7819, 80.9866 in B147, Sri Lanka. Its 1498 m elevation is the 15th highest of 421 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne — 1.9 km away · Uva Province
• Nayabedde Tea Estate — 2.2 km away · Badulla district
• Agarapatana Plantations, Gonamotawa — 2.3 km away · Uva Province
• Agarapatana Plantations, Haputale — 2.9 km away · Uva Province
• Hapugahawatte, Mount Uva — 3.9 km away · Uva Province

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory (1,498 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory recorded 2,188 mm in 2025, 27% more than the 1,727 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
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd	Fort Portal, Uganda	1,498 m	1,236 mm	25.6 °C
Thumaita	Kenya, Kenya	1,499 m	1,274 mm	24.0 °C
IKUMBI	THIKA, Kenya	1,500 m	956 mm	25.1 °C
Guderale	Kerala, India	1,501 m	3,791 mm	21.6 °C
Kijura Tea Company	Western, Uganda	1,502 m	1,376 mm	25.8 °C

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory Compared with Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory is the driest of the 421 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 97% of the others by elevation; cooler than 91% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory 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	Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,498 m	290 m	6 to 1,962 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,188 mm	3,080 mm	2,018 to 4,839 mm
Mean daily high	22.5 °C	28.8 °C	18.9 to 31.3 °C
Mean overnight low	14.7 °C	21.8 °C	12.4 to 24.3 °C

Observed Climate at Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 2,188 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (582 mm) and the driest was February (44 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.5 °C and overnight lows 14.7 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,188 mm
Wettest month	November (582 mm)
Driest month	February (44 mm)
Mean daily high	22.5 °C
Mean overnight low	14.7 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory located?

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory is in B147, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.7819, 80.9866, at an elevation of about 1498 metres.

Who operates Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory?

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory is operated by Agarapatana Plantations, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory produce?

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.

What certifications does Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory hold?

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,188 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (582 mm).

How does Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory recorded 2,188 mm in 2025, 27% more rain than the 1,727 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].