In short: Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province at 887 metres, operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead and known to supply Finlays.
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead is a black tea estate situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 887 metres. The estate is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a significant player in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 887 metres above sea level, this estate occupies a mid-elevation zone in Sri Lanka's Central Province, a latitude of approximately 7°N. Estates at this altitude typically experience a moderating influence on temperature compared to lowland gardens, with cooler nights and warm days that can encourage a slower, more even maturation of the leaf. The Central Province generally benefits from the island's bimodal monsoon pattern, with rainfall distributed across two main seasons, though local microclimates vary considerably.
Mid-grown Ceylon teas from elevations around 900 metres tend to develop a balance between the briskness of low-grown leaf and the delicacy of high-elevation character. The relatively consistent warmth at this latitude, tempered by altitude, often supports year-round cropping, though flush quality and volume typically fluctuate with the monsoon cycle. Soils in the Central Province are generally lateritic and well-drained, a legacy of the region's geology, which can influence root development and nutrient uptake.
Tea Produced
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead produces black tea. Mid-grown Ceylon blacks from estates around this elevation often yield a cup that sits between the full body and malty notes of low-country leaf and the lighter, more aromatic profiles typical of high-grown Nuwara Eliya or Dimbula teas. Teas from the Central Province at this altitude generally offer moderate astringency, a rounded mouthfeel, and a copper-to-amber liquor, with flavour notes that can range from malt and wood to subtle fruit or floral hints depending on the season and processing. The character tends to be versatile, suited to both straight consumption and blending.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea company with extensive sourcing, blending, and distribution operations worldwide. Finlays' client base spans major retail and foodservice brands, and its procurement network includes estates across East Africa and South Asia. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead's output meets the quality and volume benchmarks required for international blending and private-label programmes, positioning the estate within a commercial supply chain that prioritises consistency and traceability.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in our directory.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead lies at 7.0826, 80.5214 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 887 m elevation is the 65th highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Goorookoya — 3.9 km away
- Pallegama — 4.1 km away
- New Weliganga — 4.4 km away
- Cooroondoowatte — 4.8 km away
- Galpaya — 6.6 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead (887 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead recorded 3,261 mm in 2025, 78% more than the 1,832 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balangoda Plantations, Spring Valley Group | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 885 m | 2,624 mm | 26.3 °C |
| Kasembereka Tea | Thyolo- Makwasa Road, Malawi | 891 m | 1,655 mm | 24.4 °C |
| ZTG Jinsha Tea Base | Guizhou Province, China | 879 m | 1,370 mm | 22.1 °C |
| Ming Ding Cha International Co., Ltd | Shengmaoshu, Taiwan | 875 m | 2,152 mm | 23.2 °C |
| East Usambara Tea Co. Ltd, Kwamkoro | Tanga, Tanzania United Republic Of | 875 m | 1,361 mm | 26.0 °C |
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead is wetter than 52% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 69% of the others by elevation; warmer than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead 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 | Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 887 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 | 25.1 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.5 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead’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 25.1 °C and overnight lows 17.5 °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 | 25.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead located?
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.0826, 80.5214, at an elevation of about 887 metres.
Who operates Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead?
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead produce?
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,261 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (922 mm).
How does Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead recorded 3,261 mm in 2025, 78% more rain than the 1,832 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].