Kotiyagala Tea Estate

Kotiyagala Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in the Nuwaraeliya District of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 1,383 metres. The estate is operated by Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Plc, a publicly listed company managing multiple tea properties in the country. Kotiyagala is known to supply Finlays, a major tea buyer and processor with global reach.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,383 metres above sea level, Kotiyagala sits within the mid-grown to high-grown elevation band typical of the Nuwaraeliya District, Sri Lanka's highest and coolest tea-growing region. Estates at this altitude generally experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf development and encourage the accumulation of flavour compounds. The Nuwaraeliya District, positioned in the central highlands at approximately 7° north latitude, typically receives substantial rainfall distributed across two monsoon seasons, with mist and cloud cover common at elevations above 1,200 metres.

These climatic factors—moderate temperatures, high humidity, and diffuse sunlight—tend to favour the production of teas with brightness and aromatic complexity. The slower growth cycle often associated with this elevation generally allows for more deliberate plucking schedules, though actual estate practices depend on management decisions and market demand. The lateritic soils common to Sri Lanka's central highlands are typically well-drained and acidic, characteristics that suit Camellia sinensis cultivation.

Tea Produced

Kotiyagala produces black tea. Estates in the Nuwaraeliya District at comparable elevations are generally known for teas with a lighter body, bright liquor, and a characteristic briskness in the cup. These high-grown Ceylon blacks often display floral or grassy notes, with a clean, astringent finish that distinguishes them from the fuller, more malty profiles typical of lower-altitude Sri Lankan teas. The specific character of Kotiyagala's output will depend on processing choices, seasonal variation, and the leaf standard selected at plucking.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kotiyagala is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest privately held tea and coffee companies, which operates as both a plantation owner and a processor, blender, and supplier to retail and foodservice brands globally. Supply relationships with firms of Finlays' scale typically indicate that an estate is able to meet volume, quality consistency, and certification requirements expected by multinational buyers. This connection places Kotiyagala within the formal, vertically integrated segment of Sri Lanka's tea export supply chain, rather than the smallholder or auction-reliant sector.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Plc is a publicly listed operator headquartered in Sri Lanka, with a portfolio that includes Kotiyagala and at least five other estates recorded in industry directories. As a listed entity, Bogawantalawa is subject to corporate governance and financial reporting standards that typically entail greater transparency than privately held plantation companies. The company's multi-estate structure allows for economies of scale in processing, logistics, and marketing, and often facilitates compliance with third-party certification schemes demanded by export markets.

Certifications & Ethics

Kotiyagala holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), a multi-stakeholder initiative that monitors labour rights, health and safety, and environmental standards on member estates. ETP certification requires regular independent audits against a code of practice covering wages, working hours, housing, and freedom of association. For buyers, ETP membership offers a degree of supply-chain assurance and risk mitigation; for workers, it is intended to provide a framework for grievance mechanisms and improvements in workplace conditions, though the practical impact of such schemes depends on enforcement and local context.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kotiyagala Tea Estate lies at 6.7851, 80.6920 in Nuwaraeliya District, Sri Lanka. Its 1383 m elevation is the joint 33rd highest of 421 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Bogawantalawa Plantations, Campion — 1.3 km away · Central Province
• Bogawantalawa Plantations, Bogawana — 2.2 km away · Central Province
• Bogawantalawa Plantations, Fetteresso — 2.2 km away · Central Province
• Madulsima Plantations, Kirkoswald — 2.2 km away · Central Province
• Madulsima Plantations, St Theresia — 2.2 km away · Central Province

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kotiyagala Tea Estate

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kotiyagala Tea Estate (1,383 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kotiyagala Tea Estate recorded 2,792 mm in 2025, 20% more than the 2,323 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
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig	Uva Province, Sri Lanka	1,383 m	2,308 mm	23.5 °C
Gorkha Tea Estate Pvt Ltd	Sunperpani Fikkal, Nepal	1,386 m	2,277 mm	20.5 °C
Dewata Tea Estate	Kab. Bandung, Indonesia	1,391 m	2,942 mm	22.8 °C
KYIMBILA	Mbeya region, Tanzania United Republic Of	1,391 m	1,902 mm	21.6 °C
Nayabedde Tea Estate	Badulla district, Sri Lanka	1,396 m	2,188 mm	23.2 °C

Kotiyagala Tea Estate Compared with Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, Kotiyagala Tea Estate is drier than 65% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 92% of the others by elevation; cooler than 96% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kotiyagala 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	Kotiyagala Tea Estate	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,383 m	290 m	6 to 1,962 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,792 mm	3,080 mm	2,018 to 4,839 mm
Mean daily high	21.8 °C	28.8 °C	18.9 to 31.3 °C
Mean overnight low	14.9 °C	21.8 °C	12.4 to 24.3 °C

Observed Climate at Kotiyagala Tea Estate (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kotiyagala Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,792 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (558 mm) and the driest was February (60 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.8 °C and overnight lows 14.9 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and December the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,792 mm
Wettest month	November (558 mm)
Driest month	February (60 mm)
Mean daily high	21.8 °C
Mean overnight low	14.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kotiyagala Tea Estate located?

Kotiyagala Tea Estate is in Nuwaraeliya District, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.7851, 80.6920, at an elevation of about 1383 metres.

Who operates Kotiyagala Tea Estate?

Kotiyagala Tea Estate is operated by Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Plc, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Kotiyagala Tea Estate produce?

Kotiyagala Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kotiyagala Tea Estate supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kotiyagala Tea Estate as supplying Finlays.

What certifications does Kotiyagala Tea Estate hold?

Kotiyagala Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does Kotiyagala Tea Estate receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,792 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (558 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].