In short: Holyrood Tea Estate is a black tea producer in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka, operated by Talawakelle at an elevation of 1,231 metres.
Holyrood Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in the Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 1,231 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Talawakelle, a company with a portfolio of tea holdings in the region. No public records of direct buyers for Holyrood's production have been documented in trade data currently available.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,231 metres, Holyrood sits within the mid-elevation band of Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, where the interplay of altitude, rainfall and temperature typically shapes a growing environment distinct from both low-country estates and the highest peaks of Nuwara Eliya proper. Estates at this elevation often experience a moderated climate: warm enough to sustain steady growth yet cool enough to slow the flush cycle, characteristics that tend to encourage complexity in the leaf.
Nuwara Eliya district is broadly known for its montane topography and exposure to monsoon patterns that bring ample moisture during the south-west monsoon season, generally from May through August. Estates in this zone often benefit from well-distributed rainfall and mist, conditions that can support year-round cropping while influencing the concentration of secondary metabolites in the leaf. The interplay of elevation, aspect and seasonal weather variation means that the cup character of teas from this altitude range can vary considerably, even within a single district.
Tea Produced
Holyrood produces black tea, the dominant type manufactured across the Nuwara Eliya district. Estates at comparable elevations in this region often yield teas with a brisk, bright character and a medium body, typically displaying floral or grassy notes depending on the season and processing specifics. The cup profile of mid-elevation Ceylon blacks tends to balance strength and delicacy, though much depends on plucking standard, withering conditions and firing. Without detailed manufacturing records, the specific style and grade mix produced at Holyrood remain unverified, but the elevation and regional context suggest a tea suited to the everyday to mid-premium segments of the black tea market.
Operator
Holyrood is operated by Talawakelle, a company that manages a portfolio of tea estates in Sri Lanka. Talawakelle operates five other estates currently recorded in this directory, indicating a multi-site operational footprint within the country's tea sector. The scale and geographic spread of its holdings suggest an established presence in Sri Lanka's supply chain, though the commercial arrangements and end-market channels for individual estate outputs are not publicly documented.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Holyrood Tea Estate lies at 6.9471, 80.6643 in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Its 1231 m elevation is the lowest of 6 estates we map in Nuwara Eliya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Maskeliya Plantations, St. Clair — under 1 km away · Central Province
- Maskeliya Plantations, Talawakelle — under 1 km away · Central Province
- Talawakelle Plantations, Great Western — under 1 km away · Central Province
- Wattegodde Tea Estate — 2.1 km away
- Talawakelle Plantations, Bearwell — 2.6 km away · Central Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Holyrood Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Holyrood Tea Estate (1,231 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Holyrood Tea Estate recorded 4,232 mm in 2025, 136% more than the 1,793 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hapugahawatte, Mount Uva | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,234 m | 2,308 mm | 24.3 °C |
| Soom Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,237 m | 2,376 mm | 22.5 °C |
| Mwera Tea Estates Ltdmwte) | p.o Box, Uganda | 1,237 m | 1,149 mm | 27.1 °C |
| Uganda Tea Corporation Ltd., Luwala Tea Estates Ltd | Lugazi, Uganda | 1,239 m | 1,664 mm | 26.7 °C |
| Guizhou Tongren Gui Tea Co., Ltd. | Guiyang, China | 1,241 m | 1,466 mm | 19.9 °C |
Holyrood Tea Estate Compared with Nuwara Eliya
In Nuwara Eliya, Holyrood Tea Estate is wetter than 80% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the lowest of the 6 estates by elevation; the warmest of the 6 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Holyrood Tea Estate against the 5 other estates we map in Nuwara Eliya, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Holyrood Tea Estate | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,231 m | 1,379 m | 1,286 to 1,892 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 4,232 mm | 3,152 mm | 2,796 to 4,232 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.0 °C | 22.4 °C | 19.4 to 22.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.1 °C | 15.6 °C | 13.0 to 15.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Holyrood Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Holyrood Tea Estate’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 23.0 °C and overnight lows 16.1 °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 | 23.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.1 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Holyrood Tea Estate located?
Holyrood Tea Estate is in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9471, 80.6643, at an elevation of about 1231 metres.
Who operates Holyrood Tea Estate?
Holyrood Tea Estate is operated by Talawakelle, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Holyrood Tea Estate produce?
Holyrood Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Holyrood Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,232 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (899 mm).
How does Holyrood Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Holyrood Tea Estate recorded 4,232 mm in 2025, 136% more rain than the 1,793 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].
