In short: Kelanivalley Plantations is a mid-elevation black-tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operated by the Robgill Group and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Kelanivalley Plantations is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operated by the Robgill Group. Situated at an elevation of 1,434 metres, the estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, the UK-headquartered commodity trader and packer.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,434 metres above sea level, Kelanivalley Plantations occupies a mid-elevation position within the Central Province. Estates at this altitude typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than low-grown gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf development and encourage the accumulation of flavour compounds. The Central Province's position in Sri Lanka's interior generally exposes plantations to both monsoon systems, shaping a bimodal rainfall pattern that influences flush timing and intensity.
Mid-grown Ceylon teas from this elevation band are often characterised by a balance between the body associated with lower altitudes and the brightness found at higher elevations. The interplay of temperature, moisture and solar exposure at around 1,300 metres tends to yield a leaf that processors can direct toward a range of black-tea styles, though specific cultivation and factory practices ultimately determine the final character.
Tea Produced
Kelanivalley Plantations produces black tea. Estates in the Central Province at similar elevations typically yield teas with moderate body, a degree of brightness and a relatively smooth, accessible profile. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks from this zone are often processed to deliver a rounded, copper-coloured liquor with gentle astringency, making them suitable for both straight consumption and blending. The specific cup character will reflect seasonal variation, plucking standards and oxidation protocols applied during manufacture.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kelanivaley Plantations is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea packers and a significant procurer of Ceylon origin for retail-brand and food-service blends. This connection suggests that the estate's output meets the consistency, quality and traceability standards required by a multinational supply chain. Finlays' procurement from Kelanivalley indicates the estate's integration into established commercial channels serving both UK and international markets.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by the Robgill Group under the entity name Kelanivalley Plantations. The Robgill Group's role as operator implies responsibility for cultivation, processing and estate management, though publicly available detail on the group's wider portfolio and operational history remains limited.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group lies at 6.8283, 80.6589 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1434 m elevation is the 12th highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Tillyrie Estate — under 1 km away · Colombo
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Bogawantalawa — 1.6 km away
- Madulsima Plantations, Kew — 3.4 km away
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Bogawana — 3.9 km away
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Fetteresso — 3.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group (1,434 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group recorded 2,792 mm in 2025, 24% more than the 2,259 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selimbong Tea Estate | Soolbongs Tea Garden, India | 1,432 m | 2,552 mm | 20.6 °C |
| Sinumbra Tea Estate | West Java, Indonesia | 1,431 m | 2,986 mm | 22.7 °C |
| Malabar Tea Estate | West Java, Indonesia | 1,430 m | 2,799 mm | 23.0 °C |
| GREENFIELD BIO PLANTATIONS PVT LTD | HAPUTALE, Sri Lanka | 1,428 m | 2,188 mm | 23.0 °C |
| Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru | Meru, Kenya | 1,443 m | 770 mm | 24.6 °C |
Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group is drier than 71% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 88% of the others by elevation; cooler than 89% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group against the 92 other estates we map in Central Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,434 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,792 mm | 3,206 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 21.9 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.1 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group’s coordinates recorded 2,792 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (558 mm) and the driest was February (60 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.9 °C and overnight lows 15.1 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,792 mm |
| Wettest month | November (558 mm) |
| Driest month | February (60 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 21.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.1 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group located?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8283, 80.6589, at an elevation of about 1434 metres.
Who operates Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group is operated by Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group produce?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,792 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (558 mm).
How does Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Robgill Group recorded 2,792 mm in 2025, 24% more rain than the 2,259 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].
