In short: Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province at 896 metres elevation, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, situated at an elevation of 896 metres. The estate is operated by Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane and produces black tea. It is known to supply Finlays, a significant player in the global tea supply chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 896 metres above sea level, Nayapane sits in what is typically classified as a mid-grown elevation band in Sri Lanka's Central Province. Estates at this altitude generally experience a climate that moderates the extremes of both low-grown and high-grown zones, with temperature and moisture levels that tend to support consistent year-round production. The Central Province's position in the island's interior means that seasonal monsoon patterns usually influence the growing cycle, though the precise interplay of rainfall and dry periods varies locally.
Mid-grown Ceylon estates of this type often benefit from a balance between yield and quality characteristics. The elevation is generally high enough to slow leaf growth compared to low-grown areas, which can contribute to flavour development, yet not so high as to produce the lightest, most delicate profiles associated with estates above 1,200 metres. Soils in the Central Province are typically lateritic and well-draining, supporting the cultivation of black tea varieties that require good aeration at the root zone.
Tea Produced
Nayapane produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's mid-grown estates. Teas from the Central Province at this elevation typically yield a cup with medium body and a balance of briskness and depth. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks often display a rounded character, with moderate astringency and a malty or slightly sweet note, though specific cup profiles depend on plucking standards, processing choices, and the particular season of manufacture. These teas are generally well-suited to blending and are valued for consistency in both domestic and export markets.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Nayapane is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major tea packer and distributor with a substantial international footprint. Finlays sources from estates across the world's main tea origins to supply both branded and own-label products to retailers and foodservice clients. The presence of Finlays as a buyer indicates that Nayapane's output meets the quality and traceability standards expected by a vertically integrated supply-chain operator serving global markets. This relationship suggests the estate is positioned within the volume-quality segment of Sri Lankan black tea production, where reliability and consistent grading are commercially essential.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in our directory.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane lies at 7.0952, 80.5895 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 896 m elevation is the 63rd highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Elpitiya Plantations, New Peacock Group — 3.5 km away
- New Weliganga — 3.5 km away
- Pallegama — 3.7 km away
- Zion Hill — 5.3 km away
- Goorookoya — 5.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane (896 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane recorded 3,261 mm in 2025, 50% more than the 2,168 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasembereka Tea | Thyolo- Makwasa Road, Malawi | 891 m | 1,655 mm | 24.4 °C |
| Wentworth Tea Estate | Cherambadi, India | 903 m | 2,378 mm | 26.4 °C |
| Blairlomond Tea Estate | Madulla Road, Sri Lanka | 903 m | 2,658 mm | 26.7 °C |
| CHAWANI | Thyolo, Malawi | 906 m | 1,525 mm | 24.1 °C |
| Balangoda Plantations, Spring Valley Group | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 885 m | 2,624 mm | 26.3 °C |
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane is wetter than 52% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 67% of the others by elevation; warmer than 67% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane 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 | Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 896 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,261 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.0 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.4 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane’s coordinates recorded 3,261 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (922 mm) and the driest was February (23 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.0 °C and overnight lows 17.4 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and February the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,261 mm |
| Wettest month | November (922 mm) |
| Driest month | February (23 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane located?
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.0952, 80.5895, at an elevation of about 896 metres.
Who operates Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane?
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane is operated by Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane produce?
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,261 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (922 mm).
How does Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane recorded 3,261 mm in 2025, 50% more rain than the 2,168 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].