In short: Baddegama Idigaskatiya is a black tea estate in the Baddegama region of Sri Lanka, at 10 metres above sea level, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Baddegama Idigaskatiya is a tea estate located in the Baddegama region of Sri Lanka's Southern Province, at approximately 10 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major participant in the global tea trade. The operating company is not publicly documented.
Terroir & Climate
At 10 metres elevation, this estate sits in Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, where warm temperatures and high humidity typically prevail year-round. Estates at such altitudes generally experience rapid vegetative growth, with flush cycles that tend to be more frequent than those in mid- or high-elevation gardens. The warm, moist conditions characteristic of low-lying coastal districts in southern Sri Lanka often support vigorous leaf development.
Low-grown Sri Lankan estates typically contend with higher rainfall and less diurnal temperature variation than their counterparts in the central highlands. These conditions generally favour volume and robustness over the more delicate aromatics associated with elevation, though skilled manufacture can yield teas of considerable strength and body. The Baddegama region's proximity to the Indian Ocean may further influence local microclimates, though specific meteorological data for this estate are not available.
Tea Produced
As a low-grown black tea producer, Baddegama Idigaskatiya's output would typically be expected to display the bold, malty characteristics common to Sri Lankan teas from near sea level. Estates in this elevation band often yield liquors with good body, brisk astringency, and pronounced colour—qualities that tend to suit blending applications and markets where strength and consistency are prioritised over high-grown complexity. The specific cup character of this estate's leaf has not been independently documented.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with operations spanning plantation, processing, blending, and distribution across multiple continents. This relationship suggests that Baddegama Idigaskatiya's production enters a global supply chain serving retail brands, foodservice, and out-of-home markets. Finlays' procurement footprint typically emphasises volume reliability and manufacturing consistency, pointing to the estate's role as a contributor to blended products rather than single-origin retail offerings.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA lies at 6.1688, 80.1794 in Baddegama, Sri Lanka. Its 10 m elevation is the joint 411th highest of 429 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Galle Gangaboda — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- Mussendapota — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- Thotupalawatta — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- Thisara — 3.2 km away · Southern Province
- Weihena — 3.9 km away · Southern Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA (10 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA recorded 3,346 mm in 2025, 63% more than the 2,054 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neptune Tea Estates Limited | Chattogram, Bangladesh | 10 m | 2,233 mm | 29.8 °C |
| Zhejiang Shanming Tea Co., Ltd. | Zhuji City, China | 10 m | 1,401 mm | 23.0 °C |
| SSK Exports Limited | 1ST FLOOR, India | 10 m | 1,858 mm | 31.4 °C |
| Parisons Estate And Industries Private Limited | West Bengal, India | 10 m | 1,951 mm | 31.3 °C |
| Nuwaraeliya Tea Estate | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 10 m | 2,828 mm | 29.9 °C |
BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA Compared with Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 97% of the others by elevation; warmer than 58% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA against the 428 other estates we map in Sri Lanka, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 10 m | 300 m | 6 to 1,962 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,346 mm | 3,051 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.5 °C | 28.8 °C | 18.9 to 31.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.7 °C | 21.7 °C | 12.4 to 24.3 °C |
Observed Climate at BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA’s coordinates recorded 3,346 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (428 mm) and the driest was February (107 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.5 °C and overnight lows 23.7 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,346 mm |
| Wettest month | November (428 mm) |
| Driest month | February (107 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA located?
BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA is in Baddegama, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1688, 80.1794, at an elevation of about 10 metres.
What type of tea does BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA produce?
BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA supply?
Public supplier disclosures record BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,346 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (428 mm).
How does BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA compare with estates at a similar elevation?
BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA recorded 3,346 mm in 2025, 63% more rain than the 2,054 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].