In short: Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, situated at 1,888 metres and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is a tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of 1,888 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major international tea trader and blender.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,888 metres, this estate occupies a high-elevation zone in Sri Lanka's Central Province, where cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation typically characterise the growing environment. Estates at this altitude in the central highlands generally experience slower leaf maturation, a factor that tends to encourage the development of more complex biochemical profiles in the harvested leaf. The latitude, just under seven degrees north of the equator, means the estate lies within a tropical belt subject to monsoonal influence, though elevation moderates the thermal extremes common at lower altitudes.
High-grown Ceylon teas from this elevation band are often shaped by mist, cloud cover and well-distributed rainfall, all of which tend to reduce direct solar stress on the canopy. These conditions generally favour a slower, more even flush cycle. Soils in the Central Province uplands are typically acidic and well-drained, characteristics that suit Camellia sinensis cultivation, though specific soil composition and management practices at individual estates vary.
Tea Produced
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea produces black tea, the dominant type manufactured across Sri Lanka's high-elevation zones. Teas from estates at this altitude in the Central Province typically yield a bright, brisk liquor with a crisp character and notable astringency. High-grown Ceylon blacks often display floral or citrus notes, with a clean finish and lighter body compared to low-grown counterparts. The cup profile at this elevation generally reflects the slower growing conditions, which tend to concentrate aromatics and maintain a delicate, refined quality in the processed leaf.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated player in the global tea supply chain with blending, packing and distribution operations across multiple continents. Finlays sources estate-grown teas for use in retail blends and foodservice channels, as well as for its own branded products. This supply relationship positions the estate within a commercial network that serves supermarket own-label lines, established tea brands and international buyers seeking consistent, high-elevation Ceylon black tea.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea lies at 6.9498, 80.7891 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1888 m elevation is the joint 4th highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Agalawatte Plantations, Weddemulla — under 1 km away
- Kelanivalley Plantations, Fordyce — under 1 km away
- Pedro estate — 2.4 km away · Nuwara Eliya
- Luckyland Tea Estate — 2.4 km away · Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd
- Elpitiya Plantations, Meddecombara North — 3.2 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea (1,888 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea recorded 2,522 mm in 2025, 56% more than the 1,612 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapsara Tea Factory | Sibanga, Kenya | 1,889 m | 1,521 mm | 23.8 °C |
| Kipkebe \u0026 Keritor Tea Estates | C22 Road, Kenya | 1,886 m | 1,351 mm | 24.8 °C |
| Himalayan Tea Producers Cooperative Ltd. | LN Road 32, Nepal | 1,895 m | 2,180 mm | 18.5 °C |
| Cangyuan Rangsai Tea Cooperative | 36 Jian Gong Building Dong Feng Dong Road, China | 1,898 m | 1,823 mm | 20.7 °C |
| MUSHUBI | GICUMBI, Rwanda | 1,899 m | 1,186 mm | 22.7 °C |
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is drier than 86% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 95% of the others by elevation; cooler than 97% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea 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 | Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,888 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,522 mm | 3,206 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 19.7 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.7 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea’s coordinates recorded 2,522 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (691 mm) and the driest was February (52 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.7 °C and overnight lows 12.7 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,522 mm |
| Wettest month | November (691 mm) |
| Driest month | February (52 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 19.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea located?
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9498, 80.7891, at an elevation of about 1888 metres.
Who operates Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea?
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is operated by Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea produce?
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,522 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (691 mm).
How does Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea recorded 2,522 mm in 2025, 56% more rain than the 1,612 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].
