In short: Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operating at 1,114 metres elevation.
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey is a black tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operating at an elevation of 1,114 metres. The estate is operated under the name Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey. The Central Province forms part of Sri Lanka's historic tea belt, and estates at this mid-elevation are typically engaged in the production of orthodox black teas for both domestic and export markets.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,114 metres above sea level, Strathspey sits within the mid-elevation band that characterises much of the Central Province's tea landscape. This altitude typically places an estate above the warmer lowland zones but below the high-grown districts, resulting in a growing environment where temperatures are moderate and diurnal variation can be significant. Estates at this elevation in Sri Lanka generally experience reliable rainfall distributed across two monsoon seasons, though the precise intensity and timing vary with aspect and local topography.
The Central Province's mid-elevation zones tend to offer a balance between yield and quality, with leaf growth rates that are neither as rapid as the low country nor as slow as the highest gardens. Soils in the region are typically lateritic and well-drained, a legacy of the area's geological history, and the combination of altitude, rainfall, and temperature generally supports year-round plucking with peaks of quality coinciding with drier periods when growth slows and flavour compounds concentrate in the leaf.
Tea Produced
Strathspey produces black tea, and estates in the Central Province at similar elevations typically yield cups with medium body, balanced astringency, and a clean, bright character. Mid-grown Ceylon teas from this altitude band often display a rounded profile that sits between the robustness of low-grown leaf and the delicacy of high-grown teas, with notes that can range from malty to lightly floral depending on season and processing. Such teas are generally well-suited to blending and are valued for consistency and versatility in both packet tea and food-service applications.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey lies at 6.8384, 80.6147 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1114 m elevation is the 56th highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Venture Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Norwood-Bogawantalawa-Campion Rd
- Kelanivalley Plantations, Ingestre — 2.9 km away
- Horana Plantations, Stockholm — 3.1 km away · Nuwara Eliya District
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Norwood — 3.5 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Deeside, Glenugie — 3.8 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey (1,114 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey recorded 4,839 mm in 2025, 89% more than the 2,556 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southdown Estate | Chipinge, Zimbabwe | 1,114 m | 1,099 mm | 24.7 °C |
| MAHA UVA TEA FACTORY | WALAPANE, Sri Lanka | 1,113 m | 2,831 mm | 25.3 °C |
| Balangoda Plantations, Wewesse | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,104 m | 2,624 mm | 25.3 °C |
| The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd, Mukottu Mudi Estate | Tamil Nadu, India | 1,100 m | 3,471 mm | 24.0 °C |
| SHREE DWARIKA | West Bengal, India | 1,132 m | 2,753 mm | 24.2 °C |
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey is wetter than 95% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 60% of the others by elevation; cooler than 54% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey 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, Strathspey | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,114 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 | 23.0 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.3 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey’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 23.0 °C and overnight lows 17.3 °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 | 23.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey located?
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8384, 80.6147, at an elevation of about 1114 metres.
Who operates Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey?
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey is operated by Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey produce?
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey 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, Strathspey compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Maskeliya Plantations, Strathspey recorded 4,839 mm in 2025, 89% more rain than the 2,556 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].
