In short: Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Uva Province at 1,535 metres, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne is a black tea estate situated in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at an altitude of 1,535 metres. The estate is operated by Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne and is known to supply Finlays, a major international tea merchant and packer.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,535 metres above sea level, the estate sits within the elevated tea-growing belt of Uva Province, where cooler temperatures and the region's distinctive dry winds during the south-west monsoon season typically influence the growing cycle. Estates at this altitude generally experience slower leaf maturation, which tends to contribute to denser, more concentrated biochemical profiles in the plucked shoot.
Uva Province is positioned in the eastern uplands of Sri Lanka, where the interplay between monsoon patterns and mountain topography often creates microclimates that differ markedly from estates on the island's western and southern slopes. The combination of elevation and latitude at this location generally favours conditions associated with aromatic complexity in black tea, though individual estate character depends on a range of agronomic and processing variables.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea. Uva-grown teas from estates at comparable elevations are typically noted for their brisk, bright character and a tendency toward aromatic intensity, sometimes described in the trade as having a dry, seasonal pungency. Cup profiles from this region often exhibit briskness and clarity, though the precise sensory character of any given lot will vary according to plucking standard, manufacturing method, and the timing of production within the estate's seasonal quality windows.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate's recorded supply relationship with Finlays positions it within a well-established international tea network. Finlays operates as a significant buyer and distributor of Sri Lankan teas, sourcing from estates across the island for onward sale to brand owners, retail chains, and foodservice customers in numerous markets. A supply link of this kind generally indicates that the estate is capable of meeting the volume, quality assurance, and traceability standards expected by multinational tea businesses.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne lies at 6.7834, 81.0033 in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1535 m elevation is the highest of 28 estates we map in Uva Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory — 1.9 km away · B147
- Nayabedde Tea Estate — 2.5 km away · Badulla district
- Agarapatana Plantations, Gonamotawa — 3.3 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Craig — 3.8 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Ampttiakande — 4.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne (1,535 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne recorded 2,188 mm in 2025, 18% more than the 1,857 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenworth Tea Estate | The Nilgiris, India | 1,536 m | 1,467 mm | 21.8 °C |
| Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden | Fort Portal, Uganda | 1,533 m | 1,309 mm | 25.4 °C |
| Agalawatte Plantations, Labookellie | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,541 m | 3,080 mm | 21.3 °C |
| Tingamira Tea Estate | 194 Mutare Road, Zimbabwe | 1,529 m | 876 mm | 24.2 °C |
| Castleton Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,527 m | 2,552 mm | 19.9 °C |
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne Compared with Uva Province
In Uva Province, Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne is the driest of the 28 estates by 2025 rainfall; the highest of the 28 estates by elevation; the coolest of the 28 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne against the 27 other estates we map in Uva Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,535 m | 1,131 m | 560 to 1,447 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,188 mm | 2,319 mm | 2,188 to 2,899 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.4 °C | 25.2 °C | 23.1 to 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 14.5 °C | 16.6 °C | 14.6 to 20.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne’s coordinates recorded 2,188 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (582 mm) and the driest was February (44 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.4 °C and overnight lows 14.5 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,188 mm |
| Wettest month | November (582 mm) |
| Driest month | February (44 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 14.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne located?
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.7834, 81.0033, at an elevation of about 1535 metres.
Who operates Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne?
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne is operated by Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne produce?
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,188 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (582 mm).
How does Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne recorded 2,188 mm in 2025, 18% more rain than the 1,857 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].
