In short: Hatale is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, situated at 778 metres above sea level and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Hatale is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Central Province, at an elevation of 778 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's major tea traders and packers. While the operating company is not publicly documented, Hatale's position within the island's central growing belt places it among the mid-elevation estates that form a significant segment of Sri Lanka's export-oriented tea industry.
Terroir & Climate
At 778 metres, Hatale occupies the mid-elevation zone that characterises much of the Central Province's tea landscape. Estates at this altitude typically experience moderate temperatures and a balance between the monsoon patterns that shape Sri Lanka's two principal cropping seasons. The south-west monsoon generally brings rain from May to September, whilst the north-east monsoon influences the latter part of the year, though the Central Province's interior position often results in more distributed rainfall than estates on the windward slopes.
This elevation tends to support steady vegetative growth without the slower maturation of high-altitude gardens or the vigour of low-country plantations. Mid-grown Ceylon teas are generally understood to offer a middle path in terms of leaf development: faster than the peaks above 1,200 metres but with more moderate temperatures than the coastal plains. Such conditions typically allow for consistent cropping cycles throughout much of the year, though the exact rhythm depends on localised microclimate and aspect.
Tea Produced
Hatale produces black tea, the dominant category across Sri Lanka's central estates. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks from this elevation band are generally characterised by a balance between body and brightness: they tend to offer more strength than the delicate high-growns whilst retaining a cleaner, lighter profile than low-country leaf. Liquors from estates at this altitude often show a copper-red infusion, moderate astringency and a straightforward, brisk character that lends itself to blending. The cup profile is typically less complex than that of the island's celebrated high-altitude teas but is valued for consistency and reliable colour and strength in both packet tea and foodservice applications.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Hatale is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated business with extensive tea sourcing, blending and packing operations serving retail and foodservice markets worldwide. Finlays' procurement network spans all major tea origins, and its presence as a buyer indicates that Hatale's output meets the quality and volume thresholds required for international supply chains. For mid-elevation Sri Lankan estates, securing a relationship with a buyer of Finlays' scale typically reflects both competitive pricing and the ability to deliver consistent leaf suitable for blending programmes that require dependable sensory and physical characteristics across contracted volumes.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Hatale lies at 7.3752, 80.7277 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 778 m elevation is the 69th highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari — 7.3 km away
- Mount Eliza — 10 km away
- Yahalatenne — 18 km away
- Ancoombra — 19 km away
- Kirimetiya — 19 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Hatale
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Hatale (778 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Hatale recorded 3,291 mm in 2025, 32% more than the 2,494 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherakara Tea Estate | Thalappuzha Police Station Rd, India | 769 m | 2,910 mm | 26.3 °C |
| Shin-Yu-Min Co., Ltd. | Yuchi Township, Taiwan | 793 m | 3,160 mm | 24.1 °C |
| Cooroondoowatte | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 794 m | 2,750 mm | 26.1 °C |
| Carolyn Estate | Nilgiris-Wayanad. Tamil Nadu, India | 761 m | 2,024 mm | 27.8 °C |
| Xuan\u0027En Wutai Changchen Tea Industry Co., Ltd. | Enshi City, China | 760 m | 1,627 mm | 21.7 °C |
Hatale Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Hatale is wetter than 54% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 73% of the others by elevation; warmer than 74% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Hatale 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 | Hatale | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 778 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,291 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.2 °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 Hatale (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Hatale’s coordinates recorded 3,291 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (798 mm) and the driest was February (18 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.2 °C and overnight lows 19.3 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,291 mm |
| Wettest month | November (798 mm) |
| Driest month | February (18 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hatale located?
Hatale is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.3752, 80.7277, at an elevation of about 778 metres.
What type of tea does Hatale produce?
Hatale is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Hatale supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Hatale as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Hatale receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,291 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (798 mm).
How does Hatale compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Hatale recorded 3,291 mm in 2025, 32% more rain than the 2,494 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].