In short: Dartry is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, situated at 633 metres elevation, known to supply Finlays.
Dartry is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Central Province, at an elevation of 633 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major name in the international tea trade. The operating company is not publicly documented.
Terroir & Climate
At 633 metres, Dartry occupies what is typically classified as low-grown to mid-grown territory in Sri Lankan tea production. Estates at this elevation generally experience warmer temperatures and a faster growing cycle than their high-elevation counterparts, with plucking often possible year-round. The Central Province's geography tends to moderate rainfall patterns, though conditions vary considerably within the region.
This altitude range often yields a leaf with greater body and strength than the more delicate high-grown teas. The combination of latitude—approximately seven degrees north of the equator—and elevation tends to support steady vegetative growth, with seasonal variation driven more by monsoon patterns than by temperature extremes.
Tea Produced
Dartry produces black tea, the dominant category in Sri Lankan output. Estates at this elevation typically yield a cup with robust body, brisk character, and moderate astringency. Low- to mid-grown Ceylon teas generally offer more pronounced strength and colour than their high-grown relatives, making them well suited to blending applications where body and consistency are priorities. The precise cup profile will depend on cultivar, processing technique, and seasonal variation, but the elevation suggests a style closer to the bold, full-flavoured end of the Sri Lankan spectrum.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Dartry is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee companies with a significant presence across sourcing, blending, and brand supply. This relationship suggests that Dartry's production is integrated into commercial-scale supply chains serving international markets. Finlays sources from numerous estates across the main tea origins, and its involvement typically indicates that an estate's output meets the quality and volume standards required for branded and foodservice applications in Europe, North America, and other major consuming regions.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Dartry lies at 7.1494, 80.5871 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 633 m elevation is the 76th highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Yahaladuwa — 2.1 km away · Southern Province
- Lantern Hill Lotus Valley — 2.4 km away
- Orange Field — 2.4 km away
- Elpitiya Plantations, New Peacock Group — 2.5 km away
- Zion Hill — 2.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Dartry
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Dartry (633 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Dartry recorded 2,750 mm in 2025, 11% more than the 2,472 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPERANZA | Mulanje, Malawi | 643 m | 1,677 mm | 26.9 °C |
| Kawalazi Tea Estate | D44, Malawi | 653 m | 2,396 mm | 27.2 °C |
| Agarapatana Plantations, Diyagama West | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 655 m | 2,872 mm | 26.8 °C |
| Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 657 m | 2,664 mm | 26.4 °C |
| Badamtam Tea Estate | Weste Bengal, India | 608 m | 2,753 mm | 27.2 °C |
Dartry Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Dartry is drier than 76% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 81% of the others by elevation; warmer than 83% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Dartry 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 | Dartry | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 633 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,750 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 27.0 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.3 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Dartry (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Dartry’s coordinates recorded 2,750 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (859 mm) and the driest was February (9 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.0 °C and overnight lows 19.3 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and February the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,750 mm |
| Wettest month | November (859 mm) |
| Driest month | February (9 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dartry located?
Dartry is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.1494, 80.5871, at an elevation of about 633 metres.
What type of tea does Dartry produce?
Dartry is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Dartry supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Dartry as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Dartry receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,750 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (859 mm).
How does Dartry compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Dartry recorded 2,750 mm in 2025, 11% more rain than the 2,472 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].