In short: Broadlands Tea Factory is a low-grown black tea producer located on Kalugala-Laxapana Rd in Sri Lanka, at 297 metres above sea level, and is operated by Tea Smallholder Factories Plc.
Broadlands Tea Factory is a black tea manufacturing facility situated on Kalugala-Laxapana Rd in Sri Lanka's low-country tea belt, at an elevation of 297 metres above sea level. The factory is operated by Tea Smallholder Factories Plc, a model common in Sri Lanka where centralised processing facilities aggregate leaf from surrounding smallholder growers. Its low-elevation position places it firmly within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, which typically processes high volumes of robust black tea for both domestic and export markets.
Terroir & Climate
At 297 metres above sea level, Broadlands operates in the warm, humid conditions characteristic of Sri Lanka's low-grown regions. Estates at this elevation generally experience year-round growing conditions with little dormancy, allowing for continuous plucking cycles and high biomass production. The lower altitude and warmer temperatures tend to accelerate photosynthesis and leaf growth, typically resulting in larger leaf and faster maturation compared to the slower, cooler rhythms of high-grown gardens.
Sri Lanka's low-country belt, lying close to the equator at approximately 7°N, generally receives reliable monsoon rainfall and benefits from the island's bimodal wet seasons. These conditions tend to favour vigour and yield over the more nuanced aromatic development associated with elevation, and factories at this altitude often process leaf with greater astringency and colour strength, attributes valued in blending and in markets where body and briskness are prized.
Tea Produced
Broadlands produces black tea, the dominant output of Sri Lanka's low-grown zone. Teas manufactured at this elevation typically exhibit a full body, strong colour, and brisk, assertive character in the cup. The style is generally well suited to blending and to applications where robustness, good colour extraction, and reliable astringency are required. While low-grown Ceylon teas tend to lack the floral complexity or bright, crisp notes of high-elevation leaf, they offer consistency, strength, and the bold profile that anchors many everyday blends and value segments in global tea trade.
Operator
Broadlands is operated by Tea Smallholder Factories Plc, a company structure typical of Sri Lanka's smallholder-aggregation model, in which independent growers deliver green leaf to a centralised factory for processing. This arrangement allows smallholders to access economies of scale in manufacture and marketing while retaining ownership of their land. Tea Smallholder Factories Plc is not currently recorded as operating other estates in our directory.
Certifications & Ethics
Broadlands Tea Factory holds certification under the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that works to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions on tea estates and in their supply chains. ETP certification involves independent monitoring against standards covering labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship, and is intended to provide assurance to buyers that the factory operates within a framework of continuous improvement and accountability. For workers and smallholders, ETP membership can mean access to training, grievance mechanisms, and closer oversight of working conditions.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Broadlands Tea Factory lies at 6.9561, 80.4663 in Kalugala-Laxapana Rd, Sri Lanka. Its 297 m elevation is the 193rd highest of 259 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Bearwell Estate — 4.7 km away · Avissawella - Hatton - Nuwara Eliya Hwy
- Hatton Plantations, Kenilworth — 5.3 km away · Central Province
- Vellaioya Estate — 8.2 km away · Avissawella - Hatton - Nuwara Eliya Hwy
- Misa, Garden Leaf — 9.9 km away · Sabaragamuwa Province
- Wanarajah Tea Estate — 10 km away · Nuwaraeliya District
Observed Climate at Broadlands Tea Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Broadlands Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 4,260 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (792 mm) and the driest was February (58 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.7 °C and overnight lows 20.8 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 4,260 mm |
| Wettest month | November (792 mm) |
| Driest month | February (58 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Broadlands Tea Factory located?
Broadlands Tea Factory is in Kalugala-Laxapana Rd, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9561, 80.4663, at an elevation of about 297 metres.
Who operates Broadlands Tea Factory?
Broadlands Tea Factory is operated by Tea Smallholder Factories Plc, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Broadlands Tea Factory produce?
Broadlands Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
What certifications does Broadlands Tea Factory hold?
Broadlands Tea Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Broadlands Tea Factory receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,260 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (792 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].
