In short: Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operating at 1,041 metres and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari is a black tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of 1,041 metres. The estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, the global tea and horticulture company with a significant presence in the Sri Lankan tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,041 metres above sea level, Duckwari occupies a mid-elevation zone in Sri Lanka's Central Province, where conditions typically fall between the high-grown and low-grown classifications used in the island's tea industry. Estates at this altitude generally experience moderate diurnal temperature variation and steady precipitation, factors that tend to influence both the pace of leaf development and the balance of compounds in the manufactured tea.
The Central Province, centred around Kandy and extending into the surrounding highlands, encompasses a range of microclimates shaped by aspect, rainfall distribution, and proximity to monsoon systems. Mid-elevation estates in this region often benefit from a combination of warmth and moisture that can support year-round production, though the character of the leaf typically varies with the interplay of the two monsoon periods that govern Sri Lanka's tea calendar.
Tea Produced
Duckwari produces black tea, the dominant style manufactured across Sri Lanka's Central Province. Estates at this mid-elevation typically yield teas with moderate body and a balance between briskness and depth, often positioned between the lighter, more delicate profiles associated with high-grown regions and the fuller, stronger liquors of low-grown leaf. The cup character generally reflects the estate's altitude, with a range that can encompass both brightness and a degree of malty roundness, though individual batches will vary according to season, processing, and leaf selection.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Duckwari is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with estates, blending facilities, and a global distribution network. This relationship suggests the estate's production enters a supply chain serving both international tea brands and food-service customers, with Finlays acting as an intermediary between origin and end markets in Europe, North America, and beyond. The connection to a buyer of Finlays' scale indicates that Duckwari's output meets the quality and traceability standards required for export-oriented commercial tea.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari lies at 7.3544, 80.7903 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1041 m elevation is the 58th highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Hatale — 7.3 km away
- Mount Eliza — 17 km away
- Uplands — 23 km away
- Yahalatenne — 24 km away
- Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala — 24 km away · Uva Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari (1,041 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari recorded 3,680 mm in 2025, 58% more than the 2,327 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elpitiya Plantations, Kaipoogalla | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,044 m | 4,013 mm | 24.1 °C |
| Uva Halpewatte | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,030 m | 2,416 mm | 25.7 °C |
| Namingomba Tea Estates Limited | Thyolo, Malawi | 1,022 m | 1,525 mm | 24.1 °C |
| Manjushree Tea Estate | O Valley, India | 1,070 m | 2,633 mm | 24.2 °C |
| Kisaru Tea Estate | Kampala-Masindi Road, Uganda | 1,070 m | 1,046 mm | 29.7 °C |
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari is wetter than 60% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 62% of the others by elevation; warmer than 60% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari 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 | Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,041 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,680 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.7 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.5 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari’s coordinates recorded 3,680 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (892 mm) and the driest was February (41 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.7 °C and overnight lows 17.5 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,680 mm |
| Wettest month | November (892 mm) |
| Driest month | February (41 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari located?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.3544, 80.7903, at an elevation of about 1041 metres.
Who operates Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari is operated by Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari produce?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,680 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (892 mm).
How does Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Duckwari recorded 3,680 mm in 2025, 58% more rain than the 2,327 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].
