In short: Ingurugala is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, situated at 828 metres and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Ingurugala is a tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 828 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the significant participants in the global tea trade. The operating entity of Ingurugala has not been publicly documented in available records.
Terroir & Climate
At 828 metres, Ingurugala occupies the mid-elevation tier of Sri Lanka's Central Province, where conditions typically fall between the cooler, slower-growing high country and the warmer, faster-flushing lowlands. Estates at this altitude often experience moderate daytime temperatures and reliable rainfall distributed across much of the year, supporting steady vegetative growth without the extreme diurnal swings found at higher elevations. The Central Province's position in the island's interior generally subjects it to both monsoon patterns, though local topography and aspect can influence moisture and cloud cover considerably.
Mid-grown teas from this elevation band in Sri Lanka tend to develop a balance between yield and character; the leaf metabolism is neither as rapid as in the low country nor as restrained as in the peaks above 1,200 metres. Soils in the Central Province are commonly lateritic and well-drained, a legacy of the region's geology and weathering patterns, which typically favour root health and nutrient cycling when managed appropriately. These conditions generally allow for year-round plucking, though quality and flush intensity often vary with the seasonal monsoon cycles.
Tea Produced
Ingurugala produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's Central Province. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks from estates at this elevation typically yield a cup that balances brightness and body, often showing moderate astringency and a clean, brisk character without the pronounced pungency of low-grown teas or the delicate, nuanced aromatics of high-grown leaf. Teas from this altitude band are generally versatile in blending, contributing colour, strength and a reliable flavour foundation that works well in both straight offerings and multi-origin blends.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Ingurugala is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major tea packer and ingredient supplier with a substantial global footprint in both retail and foodservice channels. This commercial relationship indicates that at least a portion of the estate's output enters extended supply chains serving international buyers, likely destined for blended products, branded packets or catering volumes rather than single-estate retail. Finlays' purchasing footprint spans multiple origins and price points, and estates within its network typically meet baseline standards for traceability and processing consistency.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Ingurugala lies at 7.1189, 80.4556 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 828 m elevation is the 67th highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- New Mount Carmel — 1.9 km away · Sabaragamuwa Province
- Kegalle Plantations, Dotel Oya — 3.5 km away · Sabaragamuwa Province
- Yuillefield Tea Estate — 4.4 km away · Western Province
- Cooroondoowatte — 8.2 km away
- Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead — 8.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Ingurugala
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Ingurugala (828 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Ingurugala recorded 3,032 mm in 2025, 33% more than the 2,274 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIONYO | 710, Kenya | 821 m | 1,066 mm | 30.2 °C |
| Wallardie Tea Estate | Vandiperiyar Idukki, India | 817 m | 2,600 mm | 25.1 °C |
| SHREE DWARIKA | West Bengal, India | 847 m | 2,870 mm | 25.8 °C |
| Choke Chamroen Tea Co Ltd | Chiang Rai, Thailand | 806 m | 1,748 mm | 26.0 °C |
| Balangoda Plantations, Cecilton | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 797 m | 3,088 mm | 25.7 °C |
Ingurugala Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Ingurugala is drier than 58% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 71% of the others by elevation; warmer than 70% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Ingurugala 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 | Ingurugala | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 828 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,032 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.7 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.7 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Ingurugala (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Ingurugala’s coordinates recorded 3,032 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (893 mm) and the driest was February (18 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.7 °C and overnight lows 17.7 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and November the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,032 mm |
| Wettest month | November (893 mm) |
| Driest month | February (18 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ingurugala located?
Ingurugala is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.1189, 80.4556, at an elevation of about 828 metres.
What type of tea does Ingurugala produce?
Ingurugala is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Ingurugala supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Ingurugala as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Ingurugala receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,032 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (893 mm).
How does Ingurugala compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Ingurugala recorded 3,032 mm in 2025, 33% more rain than the 2,274 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].