In short: Glentilt Estate is a black tea producer in Sri Lanka's Central Province at 1,176 metres, operated by Maskeliya Plantations and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Glentilt Estate is a black tea producer located in Sri Lanka's Central Province at an elevation of 1,176 metres. The estate is operated by Maskeliya Plantations and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major buyer in the international tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,176 metres above sea level, Glentilt occupies a mid-elevation zone in the Central Province, where estates generally benefit from a temperate climate and moderate diurnal temperature variation. This altitude typically places the estate above the hottest lowland zones but below the peak elevations of Sri Lanka's highest-grown teas, a position that tends to balance yield and flavour development.
Central Province estates at this latitude—just under seven degrees north of the equator—usually experience two monsoon seasons, which influence the rhythm of the plucking cycle and the character of the leaf harvested in different periods. Cooler nights at this elevation often encourage slower leaf maturation, a factor that can contribute to the development of more complex biochemical profiles in the processed tea.
Tea Produced
Glentilt produces black tea, the dominant style of the Central Province. Estates at this mid-elevation typically yield teas with good body and brightness, often displaying a balance between briskness and a degree of smoothness in the cup. The flavour profile of Central Province teas at similar altitudes generally tends towards a clean, well-rounded character, though cup quality will vary with season, manufacture and the specific leaf handled on any given day.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Glentilt Estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses with a substantial presence across sourcing, blending and distribution. This connection indicates that Glentilt's production is likely channelled into export supply chains serving major retail and food-service brands in Europe, North America and other key markets. Finlays' involvement suggests that the estate meets the quality and volume expectations of buyers operating at scale in the global commodity tea sector.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by Maskeliya Plantations. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in our directory.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt lies at 6.8373, 80.5727 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1176 m elevation is the 53rd highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Maskeliya Plantations, Laxapana — under 1 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Mousakellie — under 1 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Deeside, Glenugie — 3.3 km away
- Gouravilla Estate — 3.3 km away · Maskeliya
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Norwood — 3.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt (1,176 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt recorded 4,839 mm in 2025, 121% more than the 2,192 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malwatte Valley Plantations, Dickwella | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,175 m | 2,320 mm | 24.8 °C |
| MUGOMA | Kampala, Uganda | 1,174 m | 1,208 mm | 26.8 °C |
| AVONLEA HILL FACTORY | PAHALA KADURUGOMUWA, Sri Lanka | 1,182 m | 2,942 mm | 25.1 °C |
| Phuguri Tea Estate | Saurinibasti, India | 1,169 m | 2,778 mm | 21.5 °C |
| Shangba Tea Farm | Zunyi City, China | 1,189 m | 1,714 mm | 18.2 °C |
Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt is wetter than 95% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 57% of the others by elevation; cooler than 71% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt 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 | Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,176 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 4,839 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.6 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.9 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt’s coordinates recorded 4,839 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (934 mm) and the driest was February (92 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.6 °C and overnight lows 16.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 4,839 mm |
| Wettest month | November (934 mm) |
| Driest month | February (92 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt located?
Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8373, 80.5727, at an elevation of about 1176 metres.
Who operates Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt?
Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt is operated by Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt produce?
Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,839 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (934 mm).
How does Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Maskeliya Plantations, Glentilt Estate, Glentilt recorded 4,839 mm in 2025, 121% more rain than the 2,192 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].
