In short: Rathkelle Tea Estate is a black-tea producer in the Hingurugama Complex of Sri Lanka, operated by Madulsima Plantations and recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's.
Rathkelle Tea Estate is a black-tea production unit located in the Hingurugama Complex of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 661 metres. The estate is operated by Madulsima Plantations and is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, the British supermarket chain. The estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Terroir & Climate
At 661 metres above sea level, Rathkelle occupies the lower-mid elevation band within Sri Lanka's central hills. Estates at this altitude typically experience moderately warm conditions with reliable seasonal monsoon patterns, which tend to support vigorous flush cycles and steady year-round production. The Hingurugama Complex lies in the country's southern wet zone, where rainfall is generally abundant and humidity levels remain relatively high.
This combination of elevation and climate tends to favour leaf growth that is robust and quick to mature. While not subject to the sharp diurnal temperature swings found at higher altitudes, estates in this elevation range often benefit from consistent moisture and warmth, conditions that typically encourage a productive growing cycle with less pronounced dormancy. The terroir generally supports teas with body and colour, characteristics that tend to align with the demands of commodity and branded black-tea markets.
Tea Produced
Rathkelle produces black tea, the dominant category for estates at this elevation in Sri Lanka. Teas from the lower-mid elevations of the southern wet zone typically yield a full-bodied cup with good colour and strength, characteristics that are generally valued in blended and single-origin retail packs. The profile tends to be straightforward and robust rather than highly aromatic, with a malty or brisk character often present. Such teas are usually well-suited to milk and are commonly selected for mainstream retail and food-service applications.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Rathkelle is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This connection places the estate within the supply chain of a major retail buyer with established sourcing standards and traceability requirements. The presence of Sainsbury's as a known buyer suggests that Rathkelle's output meets the quality, certification and consistency benchmarks expected by mainstream British retail, and indicates the estate's integration into a supply chain that prizes transparency and third-party assurance.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Rathkelle is operated by Madulsima Plantations, a company that manages multiple tea-production units in Sri Lanka. In addition to Rathkelle, Madulsima Plantations operates three other estates recorded in our directory, indicating a regional presence and a portfolio approach to tea production. This multi-estate structure typically allows for shared management expertise, consolidated processing infrastructure and coordinated supply to buyers requiring volume and consistency.
Certifications & Ethics
Rathkelle holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that promotes improved working conditions, environmental stewardship and responsible management practices across tea-producing regions. For buyers, ETP certification provides third-party assurance that the estate is subject to regular monitoring against the Partnership's standards. For workers, the framework is intended to support safer working conditions, fair treatment and mechanisms for grievance and improvement, though outcomes depend on the rigour of implementation and audit processes on the ground.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Rathkelle Tea Estate lies at 6.9934, 81.0550 in Hingurugama Complex, Sri Lanka. Its 661 m elevation is the joint 143rd highest of 421 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Balangoda Plantations, Glen Alpin Group — under 1 km away · Uva Province
- Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde — 4.2 km away · Uva Province
- Malwatte Valley Plantations, Sarina Group, Sarnia Plaiderie — 5.0 km away · Uva Province
- Malwatte Valley Plantations, Dickwella — 6.1 km away · Uva Province
- Balangoda Plantations, Debedde — 6.4 km away · Uva Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Rathkelle Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Rathkelle Tea Estate (661 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Rathkelle Tea Estate recorded 2,744 mm in 2025, 10% more than the 2,489 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatton Plantations, Kenilworth | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 665 m | 3,992 mm | 26.3 °C |
| Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 657 m | 2,664 mm | 26.4 °C |
| Hunan Xiaoxiang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. - Baotian Town | Huitong County, China | 667 m | 1,715 mm | 21.6 °C |
| Kawalazi Tea Estate | D44, Malawi | 653 m | 2,396 mm | 27.2 °C |
| ESPERANZA | Mulanje, Malawi | 643 m | 1,677 mm | 26.9 °C |
Rathkelle Tea Estate Compared with Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Rathkelle Tea Estate is drier than 69% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 66% of the others by elevation; cooler than 53% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Rathkelle Tea Estate against the 420 other estates we map in Sri Lanka, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Rathkelle Tea Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 661 m | 290 m | 6 to 1,962 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,744 mm | 3,080 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.7 °C | 28.8 °C | 18.9 to 31.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.3 °C | 21.8 °C | 12.4 to 24.3 °C |
Observed Climate at Rathkelle Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Rathkelle Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,744 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (738 mm) and the driest was May (36 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.7 °C and overnight lows 19.3 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,744 mm |
| Wettest month | November (738 mm) |
| Driest month | May (36 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rathkelle Tea Estate located?
Rathkelle Tea Estate is in Hingurugama Complex, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9934, 81.0550, at an elevation of about 661 metres.
Who operates Rathkelle Tea Estate?
Rathkelle Tea Estate is operated by Madulsima Plantations, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Rathkelle Tea Estate produce?
Rathkelle Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Rathkelle Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Rathkelle Tea Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Rathkelle Tea Estate hold?
Rathkelle Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Rathkelle Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,744 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (738 mm).
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].
