In short: Uplands is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province at 775 metres, known to supply Finlays.
Uplands is a tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 775 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest tea trading and distribution companies. The operator of the estate is not currently identified in public supply-chain records.
Terroir & Climate
At 775 metres, Uplands occupies a mid-elevation position in Sri Lanka's Central Province, a zone that typically experiences a moderate tropical climate with two monsoon periods influencing the growing cycle. Estates at this altitude often benefit from warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights, conditions that generally encourage steady vegetative growth and can contribute to a balance between briskness and body in the finished leaf.
The Central Province is subject to both the south-west and north-east monsoons, and plantations in this region tend to experience distinct quality peaks corresponding to drier periods when slower leaf growth can concentrate flavour compounds. Mid-grown Ceylon teas from this elevation band are often characterised by their versatility in blending, combining sufficient strength for everyday use with a cleaner cup profile than low-grown teas.
Tea Produced
Uplands produces black tea, the category that dominates Sri Lankan output and export. Mid-grown Ceylon black teas from elevations around 775 metres typically yield a cup that balances body and brightness, with a straightforward malty character and moderate astringency. Teas from this altitude band are generally less delicate than high-grown Ceylon styles but offer greater strength and colour, making them well-suited to blending and to markets that favour a robust, everyday tea.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Uplands is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a multinational tea business with a significant presence in sourcing, blending, and distribution across global retail and foodservice channels. Finlays operates its own estates and also purchases from third-party producers, and its supplier base spans all the major origins. The relationship indicates that Uplands' output meets the quality and volume standards required by large-scale buyers serving international markets, though the precise volumes and contract terms are not publicly disclosed.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Uplands lies at 7.2270, 80.6219 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 775 m elevation is the 70th highest of 94 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala — 2.3 km away · Uva Province
- Elpitiya Plantations, Deviturai — 4.6 km away
- JAMES VALLEY TEA FACTORY — 4.8 km away · DOLUWA
- Dehiwatte — 5.5 km away
- Embilmeegama — 8.0 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Uplands
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Uplands (775 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Uplands recorded 2,071 mm in 2025, 18% less than the 2,522 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherakara Tea Estate | Thalappuzha Police Station Rd, India | 769 m | 2,910 mm | 26.3 °C |
| Carolyn Estate | Nilgiris-Wayanad. Tamil Nadu, India | 761 m | 2,024 mm | 27.8 °C |
| Xuan\u0027En Wutai Changchen Tea Industry Co., Ltd. | Enshi City, China | 760 m | 1,627 mm | 21.7 °C |
| Hapugastenne Plantations, Shawlands | Badulla District, Sri Lanka | 757 m | 2,890 mm | 27.6 °C |
| Shin-Yu-Min Co., Ltd. | Yuchi Township, Taiwan | 793 m | 3,160 mm | 24.1 °C |
Uplands Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Uplands is the driest of the 94 estates by 2025 rainfall; lower than 74% of the others by elevation; warmer than 80% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Uplands against the 93 other estates we map in Central Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Uplands | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 775 m | 1,203 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,071 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,299 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.7 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.8 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Uplands (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Uplands’s coordinates recorded 2,071 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (686 mm) and the driest was February (9 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.7 °C and overnight lows 18.8 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,071 mm |
| Wettest month | November (686 mm) |
| Driest month | February (9 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Uplands located?
Uplands is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.2270, 80.6219, at an elevation of about 775 metres.
What type of tea does Uplands produce?
Uplands is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Uplands supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Uplands as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Uplands receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,071 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (686 mm).
How does Uplands compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Uplands recorded 2,071 mm in 2025, 18% less rain than the 2,522 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].