In short: Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province at 1,340 metres, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is a black tea estate situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 1,340 metres. It is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the established names in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,340 metres in Sri Lanka's Central Province, the estate lies within the mid-elevation band where many estates experience a mix of monsoon influence and cooler temperatures than the lowlands. This altitude typically allows for a growing cycle that is somewhat slower than sea-level estates, a factor which tends to encourage more complex biochemical development in the leaf.
The Central Province of Sri Lanka generally benefits from bimodal rainfall patterns, with estates in this region often experiencing distinct wet and dry periods that shape flush timing and leaf quality. Mid-elevation sites of this kind are typically less extreme in their diurnal temperature variation than the highest peaks, yet they usually offer sufficient cool nights to help retain certain aromatic compounds in the fresh leaf.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea. Mid-elevation Ceylon blacks from the Central Province typically yield a cup that balances body with brightness, often showing a clean, brisk character without the intense astringency sometimes found at higher altitudes. Estates at this elevation band tend to produce teas that are versatile in blending and approachable in profile, with moderate colour and a degree of maltiness or gentle fruit notes, though individual garden character naturally varies with clonal material, processing and season.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated business with sourcing, blending and packing operations across multiple tea-producing countries. This relationship places the estate within a supply chain that serves retail brands, foodservice customers and packers in numerous export markets. Supplying an organisation of Finlays' scale suggests that the estate's output meets the quality assurance and traceability standards required for international trade.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella lies at 6.9286, 80.7207 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1340 m elevation is the 27th highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Somerset Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Nuwara Eliya
- Talawakelle Plantations, Mattakelle — 2.4 km away
- Dessford Tea Estate — 2.7 km away · Nuwara Eliya
- Hatton Plantations, Waltrim — 3.3 km away
- Ouvahkelle Estate — 4.1 km away · Nuwan Elgin To Maria
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Talawakelle Plantations, Radella
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Talawakelle Plantations, Radella (1,340 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Talawakelle Plantations, Radella recorded 3,746 mm in 2025, 97% more than the 1,905 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madulsima Plantations, Battawatte | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,333 m | 2,709 mm | 23.7 °C |
| Lingia Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,332 m | 2,294 mm | 21.9 °C |
| Panniar Tea Estate | Idukki, India | 1,351 m | 2,349 mm | 22.7 °C |
| NJERU | Box 241 - Meru, Kenya | 1,354 m | 1,229 mm | 24.9 °C |
| Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited(Mrul), Ankole Tea Factory, Kalinzu Garden | Fort Portal, Uganda | 1,357 m | 943 mm | 27.4 °C |
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is wetter than 65% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 72% of the others by elevation; cooler than 78% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Talawakelle Plantations, Radella 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 | Talawakelle Plantations, Radella | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,340 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,746 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.4 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.6 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Talawakelle Plantations, Radella (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Talawakelle Plantations, Radella’s coordinates recorded 3,746 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (952 mm) and the driest was February (29 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.4 °C and overnight lows 15.6 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,746 mm |
| Wettest month | November (952 mm) |
| Driest month | February (29 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Talawakelle Plantations, Radella located?
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9286, 80.7207, at an elevation of about 1340 metres.
Who operates Talawakelle Plantations, Radella?
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is operated by Talawakelle Plantations, Radella, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Talawakelle Plantations, Radella produce?
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Talawakelle Plantations, Radella supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Talawakelle Plantations, Radella as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Talawakelle Plantations, Radella receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,746 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (952 mm).
How does Talawakelle Plantations, Radella compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Talawakelle Plantations, Radella recorded 3,746 mm in 2025, 97% more rain than the 1,905 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].
