In short: Agrakanda is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, situated at 1,346 metres above sea level and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Agrakanda is a tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 1,346 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee companies. The identity of the current operator is not documented in available trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,346 metres, Agrakanda sits within the mid-elevation band of Sri Lanka's Central Province, where estates typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland operations. This altitude generally supports a slower, more sustained growing cycle, which tends to encourage gradual development of flavour compounds in the leaf. Estates at this elevation in central Sri Lanka often benefit from the interplay of monsoonal moisture and mist, conditions that can contribute to a more even maturation period.
The Central Province's tea-growing districts are shaped by two principal monsoon systems, which typically deliver moisture at different times of the year and create distinct quality peaks. Mid-elevation estates in this region generally experience moderate rainfall distributed across much of the calendar, allowing for fairly consistent cropping. The interplay of altitude, latitude, and exposure tends to favour the production of medium-bodied teas with balanced astringency, though specific outcomes depend on manufacturing technique and seasonal variation.
Tea Produced
Agrakanda produces black tea. Estates at this elevation in Sri Lanka's Central Province typically yield teas with moderate body and brightness, often displaying a balance between briskness and smoothness in the cup. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks from this altitude band are generally characterised by a clean, crisp profile with mild astringency and a tendency toward amber-to-coppery liquor. The slower leaf growth associated with cooler mid-elevation conditions can support the development of nuanced flavour, though exact cup character will vary with plucking standard, withering conditions, and oxidation management during manufacture.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Agrakanda is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with origins in Sri Lanka and a presence spanning plantation, manufacturing, blending, and distribution. Finlays sources from numerous estates across major origins and supplies both branded tea companies and retail private-label programmes in Europe, North America, and beyond. This relationship places Agrakanda within a global supply chain serving mainstream and premium black-tea markets, though the volume and exclusivity of the supply arrangement are not documented in available records.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Agrakanda lies at 6.9019, 80.6717 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1346 m elevation is the joint 23rd highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Horana Plantations, Bambrakelly Group — under 1 km away
- Horana Plantations, Eildon Hall — under 1 km away
- Henfold Estate — under 1 km away · Lindula
- St. Coombs — 1.2 km away
- Clydesdale Tea Estate — 3.1 km away · Nuwara Eliya
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Agrakanda
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Agrakanda (1,346 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Agrakanda recorded 3,682 mm in 2025, 93% more than the 1,905 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panniar Tea Estate | Idukki, India | 1,351 m | 2,349 mm | 22.7 °C |
| NJERU | Box 241 - Meru, Kenya | 1,354 m | 1,229 mm | 24.9 °C |
| Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited(Mrul), Ankole Tea Factory, Kalinzu Garden | Fort Portal, Uganda | 1,357 m | 943 mm | 27.4 °C |
| Madulsima Plantations, Battawatte | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,333 m | 2,709 mm | 23.7 °C |
| Lingia Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,332 m | 2,294 mm | 21.9 °C |
Agrakanda Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Agrakanda is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 74% of the others by elevation; cooler than 62% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Agrakanda against the 93 other estates we map in Central Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Agrakanda | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,346 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,682 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.7 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.9 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Agrakanda (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Agrakanda’s coordinates recorded 3,682 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (780 mm) and the driest was February (31 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.7 °C and overnight lows 15.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,682 mm |
| Wettest month | November (780 mm) |
| Driest month | February (31 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Agrakanda located?
Agrakanda is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9019, 80.6717, at an elevation of about 1346 metres.
What type of tea does Agrakanda produce?
Agrakanda is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Agrakanda supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Agrakanda as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Agrakanda receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,682 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (780 mm).
How does Agrakanda compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Agrakanda recorded 3,682 mm in 2025, 93% more rain than the 1,905 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].