In short: Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operated by Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle at an elevation of 1,203 metres.
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle is a black tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of 1,203 metres. The estate is managed by Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle. No buyer relationships or supply chain partnerships have been recorded in publicly available trade data.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,203 metres above sea level in Sri Lanka's Central Province, tea cultivation typically takes place in conditions shaped by moderate elevation and the region's exposure to both monsoon systems. Estates at this altitude generally experience cooler temperatures than lowland gardens, though not the pronounced diurnal variation found at higher elevations above 1,500 metres. The Central Province's position in the island's interior tends to yield a growing environment influenced by orographic rainfall and cloud cover during the south-west monsoon months.
This elevation band often supports a growing cycle that balances yield and quality, with leaf development rates that are generally slower than sea-level production but not as restrained as in the highest districts. The interplay of altitude, latitude close to the equator, and regional microclimate typically contributes to leaf chemistry that can support the oxidation processes required for black tea manufacture, though specific outcomes depend on estate management and processing protocols.
Tea Produced
As a black tea producer, Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle works with leaf grown in conditions that Central Province estates at similar elevations often associate with medium-bodied liquors. Teas from this altitude range in Sri Lanka typically exhibit a balance between the briskness sometimes found in higher-grown Ceylon teas and the fuller body more common at lower elevations. Depending on plucking standards and manufacturing technique, estates in this zone can produce blacks with moderate astringency, a rounded mouthfeel, and flavour profiles that may range from malty to subtly floral, though cup character will vary by season, clone material, and fermentation management.
Operator
The estate is operated by Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle. No other estates managed by this operator are currently recorded in our directory.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle lies at 6.9388, 80.6632 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1203 m elevation is the joint 45th 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, St. Clair — under 1 km away
- Talawakelle Plantations, Great Western — under 1 km away
- Holyrood Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Nuwara Eliya
- Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell — 2.1 km away
- Wattegodde Tea Estate — 2.8 km away · Nuwara Eliya
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle (1,203 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle recorded 4,232 mm in 2025, 113% more than the 1,987 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aislaby Tea Estate | Bandarawela, Sri Lanka | 1,202 m | 2,308 mm | 24.8 °C |
| BUHWEJU | Opposite Redcross Offices, Uganda | 1,196 m | 1,265 mm | 26.4 °C |
| Gayabaree \u0026 Millikthong Tea Estate | Purba Phuguri Tea Garden, India | 1,212 m | 2,778 mm | 21.2 °C |
| Kinkiizi Development Co Ltd, Rugyeyo Tea Factory, Kigezi Highland | Kigezi Highland, Uganda | 1,213 m | 1,265 mm | 26.4 °C |
| Malwatte Valley Plantations, Sarina Group, Neluwa | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,191 m | 2,319 mm | 24.7 °C |
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle is wetter than 79% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 50% of the others by elevation; cooler than 52% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle 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, Talawakelle | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,203 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 4,232 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.1 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.4 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle’s coordinates recorded 4,232 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (899 mm) and the driest was February (52 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.1 °C and overnight lows 16.4 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 4,232 mm |
| Wettest month | November (899 mm) |
| Driest month | February (52 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle located?
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9388, 80.6632, at an elevation of about 1203 metres.
Who operates Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle?
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle is operated by Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle produce?
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,232 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (899 mm).
How does Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle recorded 4,232 mm in 2025, 113% more rain than the 1,987 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].
