In short: Horana Plantations, Alton is a tea estate in the Central Province of Sri Lanka at 1,350 metres, operated by Horana Plantations, Alton and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Horana Plantations, Alton is a tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 1,350 metres. The estate is operated by Horana Plantations, Alton and is known to supply Finlays, a significant player in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,350 metres above sea level, the estate sits within the mid-elevation band that typically characterises much of Sri Lanka's Central Province tea country. Estates at this altitude generally experience moderate temperatures with cooler nights than the lowlands, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and can contribute to more nuanced flavour development. The latitude, close to seven degrees north, places the estate in a tropical zone where seasonal variation is driven more by monsoon patterns than by temperature swings.
Central Province's tea-growing districts often benefit from well-distributed rainfall and mist cover, particularly during the southwest monsoon. These climatic factors typically encourage steady, year-round growth, though the intensity and character of flush periods can shift with the monsoon cycle. Estates at this elevation often produce leaf that balances body with a degree of brightness, though specific outcomes depend on factory processing and the timing of the harvest.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea. Mid-elevation Ceylon blacks from the Central Province typically yield a cup that balances briskness with medium body, often displaying a clean, bright character. Teas from this altitude range tend to offer more complexity than low-grown leaf while remaining approachable and versatile in blending. The precise flavour profile will vary with plucking standards, withering conditions, and oxidation management, but estates at this elevation generally produce teas suited to both straight consumption and inclusion in proprietary blends.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Horana Plantations, Alton is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major international tea and beverage ingredients business with a significant sourcing footprint across Sri Lanka and other origins. Finlays' involvement suggests that the estate's output meets the quality and traceability standards required by a buyer servicing multinational food and beverage brands. This supply relationship positions the estate within established commercial channels, though the volume and duration of the arrangement are not disclosed in available records.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by Horana Plantations, Alton. No additional estates under the same operator are recorded in this directory at present.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Horana Plantations, Alton lies at 6.7883, 80.6201 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1350 m elevation is the 22nd highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Horana Plantations, Stockholm — 2.6 km away · Nuwara Eliya District
- Madulsima Plantations, Kew — 3.0 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Deeside, Glenugie — 4.3 km away
- Gouravilla Estate — 4.3 km away · Maskeliya
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Bogawantalawa — 5.1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Horana Plantations, Alton
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Horana Plantations, Alton (1,350 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Horana Plantations, Alton recorded 3,868 mm in 2025, 95% more than the 1,988 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 |
| Mahadowa Estate | Mahadowa Factory Road, Sri Lanka | 1,365 m | 2,709 mm | 23.5 °C |
| Madulsima Plantations, Battawatte | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,333 m | 2,709 mm | 23.7 °C |
Horana Plantations, Alton Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Horana Plantations, Alton is wetter than 71% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 77% of the others by elevation; cooler than 89% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Horana Plantations, Alton against the 92 other estates we map in Central Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Horana Plantations, Alton | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,350 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,868 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 21.9 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.0 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Horana Plantations, Alton (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Horana Plantations, Alton’s coordinates recorded 3,868 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (699 mm) and the driest was February (81 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.9 °C and overnight lows 16.0 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,868 mm |
| Wettest month | November (699 mm) |
| Driest month | February (81 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 21.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Horana Plantations, Alton located?
Horana Plantations, Alton is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.7883, 80.6201, at an elevation of about 1350 metres.
Who operates Horana Plantations, Alton?
Horana Plantations, Alton is operated by Horana Plantations, Alton, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Horana Plantations, Alton produce?
Horana Plantations, Alton is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Horana Plantations, Alton supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Horana Plantations, Alton as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Horana Plantations, Alton receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,868 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (699 mm).
How does Horana Plantations, Alton compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Horana Plantations, Alton recorded 3,868 mm in 2025, 95% more rain than the 1,988 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].
