In short: Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is a black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, operating at 657 metres elevation and known to supply Finlays.
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is a tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at an elevation of 657 metres. The estate operates under the name Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne and produces black tea. It is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major international tea and beverage business.
Terroir & Climate
At 657 metres above sea level, Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne occupies a mid-elevation position in the Sri Lankan tea landscape. Estates at this altitude generally experience moderately warm temperatures with diurnal variation, conditions that tend to encourage steady vegetative growth without the slower maturation typical of high-grown Ceylon teas. The Sabaragamuwa Province, located in the south-central part of the island at approximately 6.6° N latitude, typically receives substantial monsoon rainfall during both the south-west and north-east monsoon periods, though local topography can produce significant microclimatic variation.
Mid-grown Ceylon estates in this elevation band often benefit from a balance between yield and leaf quality. The combination of moderate altitude, tropical latitude, and the region's rainfall patterns generally supports year-round cropping, with flush intensity influenced by the timing and intensity of the two monsoon seasons. Soils in Sabaragamuwa Province are typically lateritic and well-drained, characteristics that are common across much of Sri Lanka's tea-growing belt and tend to favour the development of brisk, clean cup profiles.
Tea Produced
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne produces black tea. Mid-grown Ceylon teas from estates at this elevation typically yield a cup that balances body and brightness, often displaying a brisk, clean character without the pronounced astringency or delicate complexity associated with high-elevation leaf. Teas from the Sabaragamuwa region generally offer good colour and strength, qualities that tend to make them well-suited to blending applications. The precise cup profile will vary with season, processing technique, and the specific leaf grades manufactured, but the mid-elevation terroir generally supports teas with moderate body, reasonable flavour persistence, and a straightforward, accessible style.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the largest privately owned tea and beverage businesses globally. Finlays operates across the tea supply chain, from production and blending to distribution, and sources leaf from estates around the world to meet the specifications of major brand owners and retailers. The estate's position as a known supplier to Finlays indicates its integration into established international supply networks and suggests that its output meets the quality and consistency standards required for large-scale commercial blending and packing operations.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne lies at 6.6425, 80.6887 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 657 m elevation is the 5th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Boscombe — 2.3 km away
- Kadigalahena — 3.0 km away
- Rasagalla — 3.2 km away · Ratnapura
- Walaboda — 3.2 km away · Ratnapura
- Balangoda Tea Shakthi — 3.8 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne (657 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne recorded 2,664 mm in 2025, 17% more than the 2,281 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agarapatana Plantations, Diyagama West | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 655 m | 2,872 mm | 26.8 °C |
| Kawalazi Tea Estate | D44, Malawi | 653 m | 2,396 mm | 27.2 °C |
| Rathkelle Tea Estate | Hingurugama Complex, Sri Lanka | 661 m | 2,744 mm | 28.7 °C |
| Hunan Xiaoxiang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. - Baotian Town | Huitong County, China | 667 m | 1,715 mm | 21.6 °C |
| ESPERANZA | Mulanje, Malawi | 643 m | 1,677 mm | 26.9 °C |
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is drier than 89% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 95% of the others by elevation; cooler than 96% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne against the 74 other estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 657 m | 164 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,664 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.4 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.6 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne’s coordinates recorded 2,664 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (629 mm) and the driest was February (44 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.4 °C and overnight lows 19.6 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,664 mm |
| Wettest month | November (629 mm) |
| Driest month | February (44 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne located?
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6425, 80.6887, at an elevation of about 657 metres.
Who operates Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne?
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is operated by Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne produce?
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,664 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (629 mm).
How does Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne recorded 2,664 mm in 2025, 17% more rain than the 2,281 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].
