In short: Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province, operating at 1,259 metres and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell is a black tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of 1,259 metres. The estate is operated by Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a significant participant in the global tea supply chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,259 metres, Bearwell occupies a mid-elevation position within Sri Lanka's Central Province, a zone that typically experiences cooler temperatures and higher humidity than lowland plantations. Estates at this altitude generally benefit from a moderated diurnal range and more persistent cloud cover during the monsoon months, factors that tend to slow leaf growth and can contribute to a denser, more compact leaf structure.
Sri Lanka's Central Province sits within the country's principal tea-growing belt, where the interplay of south-west and north-east monsoons typically shapes two distinct growing seasons. Mid-elevation gardens in this region often see more consistent moisture availability than either the low-grown plains or the highest peaks, a condition that can support relatively steady production cycles throughout much of the year.
Tea Produced
Bearwell produces black tea. Estates in the Central Province operating at similar mid-elevation altitudes often yield teas with moderate body and a balance between briskness and smoothness, characteristics that tend to make such lots versatile in blending. Teas from this elevation band in Sri Lanka are generally less intensely astringent than high-grown Ceylon but typically offer more complexity and aromatic development than low-grown leaf, a profile that can suit both straight consumption and branded blends.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Bearwell is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with operations spanning production, blending, and global distribution. This connection places Bearwell within a supply chain that serves major retail and food-service brands across multiple continents. Finlays' presence as a buyer suggests that Bearwell's output meets the quality and volume thresholds required for commercial-scale blending and international logistics, positioning the estate within the mid-market segment of Sri Lanka's diverse tea export industry.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell lies at 6.9307, 80.6805 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1259 m elevation is the 40th highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Maskeliya Plantations, St. Clair — 2.1 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle — 2.1 km away
- Talawakelle Plantations, Great Western — 2.1 km away
- Talawakelle Plantations, Mattakelle — 2.5 km away
- St. Coombs — 2.5 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell (1,259 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell recorded 4,232 mm in 2025, 80% more than the 2,351 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Fountain Yunnan Tea Co., Ltd.Mangbai | Yunnan Province, China | 1,248 m | 2,424 mm | 24.0 °C |
| Gold Buds Uva Tea | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,248 m | 2,308 mm | 24.8 °C |
| Pussimbing Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,247 m | 2,778 mm | 21.0 °C |
| DHAJEA | West Bengal, India | 1,244 m | 2,778 mm | 21.0 °C |
| Guizhou Tongren Gui Tea Co., Ltd. | Guiyang, China | 1,241 m | 1,466 mm | 19.9 °C |
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell is wetter than 79% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 58% of the others by elevation; cooler than 58% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell 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 | Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,259 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,924 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 4,232 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.8 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.1 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.0 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell’s coordinates recorded 4,232 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (899 mm) and the driest was February (52 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.8 °C and overnight lows 16.0 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 4,232 mm |
| Wettest month | November (899 mm) |
| Driest month | February (52 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell located?
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9307, 80.6805, at an elevation of about 1259 metres.
Who operates Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell?
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell is operated by Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell produce?
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,232 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (899 mm).
How does Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell recorded 4,232 mm in 2025, 80% more rain than the 2,351 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].
