In short: Kelanivalley Plantations is a black tea estate in Nuwara Eliya, Central Province, Sri Lanka, at 1,912 metres, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Kelanivalley Plantations is a black tea estate located in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka's Central Province, at an altitude of 1,912 metres. It is operated by a company of the same name and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a significant player in the global tea supply chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,912 metres, Kelanivalley Plantations sits firmly within Sri Lanka's high-grown tea belt, where cool temperatures and significant diurnal variation typically slow leaf maturation and encourage the development of complex flavour compounds. Estates at this elevation in the Central Province generally experience a climate moderated by altitude, with mist and cloud cover common, particularly during the monsoon months. These conditions tend to produce a slower, more deliberate growing cycle than is found in the island's low-country zones.
Nuwara Eliya, often regarded as one of Sri Lanka's premier tea-growing districts, lies at a latitude of approximately 7°N, where the interplay of the southwest and northeast monsoons shapes two distinct quality seasons each year. The high elevation and resultant cooler ambient temperatures generally favour the production of teas with brightness and pronounced character, though outcomes naturally vary with microclimate, field management, and processing choices.
Tea Produced
Kelanivalley Plantations produces black tea. Estates in Nuwara Eliya at comparable elevations typically yield teas known for their brightness, briskness, and a cup character often described as delicate and fragrant. High-grown Ceylon blacks from this district tend to exhibit a light to medium body, with notes that can range from floral to slightly astringent, depending on the season and processing. The pronounced elevation generally supports a tea of clarity and refinement, though individual garden practices and leaf selection will influence the final profile.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kelanivalley Plantations is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated tea and horticulture company with a significant global footprint in sourcing, blending, and distribution. Finlays operates its own estates and also purchases from independent producers, positioning itself as a key intermediary between origin and international buyers. The relationship suggests that Kelanivalley's output enters a supply chain serving branded tea companies, foodservice clients, and retail markets across multiple geographies, though the specific end-users of its leaf are not publicly documented.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya lies at 6.9710, 80.7697 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1912 m elevation is the joint 2nd highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Elpitiya Plantations, Meddecombara North — under 1 km away
- Luckyland Tea Estate — 1.5 km away · Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd
- Pedro estate — 2.9 km away · Nuwara Eliya
- Agalawatte Plantations, Weddemulla — 3.2 km away
- Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea — 3.2 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya (1,912 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya recorded 3,152 mm in 2025, 85% more than the 1,707 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chepkumia Tea Factory | Nandi, Kenya | 1,912 m | 2,070 mm | 23.2 °C |
| Havukal Estate | Kotagiri, India | 1,915 m | 1,459 mm | 20.0 °C |
| Kipchimchim Group, Tet Tea Factory Co. Ltd, Laibei | Kericho, Kenya | 1,915 m | 1,535 mm | 23.4 °C |
| Southtee Handel | Ximeng, China | 1,907 m | 2,285 mm | 20.0 °C |
| MUSHUBI | GICUMBI, Rwanda | 1,899 m | 1,186 mm | 22.7 °C |
Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya is drier than 51% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 98% of the others by elevation; cooler than 99% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya 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 | Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,912 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,152 mm | 3,206 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 19.3 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.4 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya’s coordinates recorded 3,152 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (713 mm) and the driest was February (42 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.3 °C and overnight lows 12.4 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,152 mm |
| Wettest month | November (713 mm) |
| Driest month | February (42 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 19.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya located?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9710, 80.7697, at an elevation of about 1912 metres.
Who operates Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya is operated by Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya produce?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,152 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (713 mm).
How does Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kelanivalley Plantations, Nuwara Eliya recorded 3,152 mm in 2025, 85% more rain than the 1,707 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].
