In short: Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Central Province at 1,924 metres, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge is a black tea estate located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 1,924 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge, and is recorded as supplying Finlays, the international tea and beverage supplier.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,924 metres, Court Lodge sits within the high-elevation band that characterises much of Sri Lanka's Central Province tea country. Estates at this altitude typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than those in lowland zones, factors that tend to slow leaf maturation and can contribute to the development of more complex biochemical profiles in the harvested leaf. The latitude, just under 7° north, places the estate within the tropical monsoon zone, where both south-west and north-east monsoons generally shape the seasonal rhythm of growth and dormancy.
High-elevation Ceylon estates in this region often contend with mist, cloud cover, and significant rainfall across much of the year, conditions that typically favour slower, more measured vegetative cycles. These environmental factors are widely understood to influence the character of the made tea, though specific outcomes depend on a confluence of soil type, aspect, cultivar selection, and manufacturing protocol—none of which are detailed in the available record for this property.
Tea Produced
Court Lodge produces black tea. Estates at this elevation in the Central Province typically yield teas characterised by briskness, brightness, and a lighter body than lower-grown Ceylon grades. High-grown Ceylon blacks from this altitude band are often noted for floral or citric notes and a clean, crisp finish, though cup character varies with harvest season, leaf grade, and processing method. Without further detail on specific grades or manufacturing practices at Court Lodge, these regional and elevational tendencies offer the most reliable guide to the style of tea the estate is likely to produce.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Finlays is recorded as a buyer of tea from Court Lodge. Finlays operates as a major upstream supplier in the global tea trade, sourcing leaf and made tea from origin for onward sale to brand owners, retail chains, and foodservice operators. The presence of Finlays in the estate's buyer record suggests that Court Lodge's output enters diversified commercial channels rather than a single branded retail line, a pattern common to many mid-sized and larger Sri Lankan estates that supply the international bulk and packet tea markets.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge lies at 6.9843, 80.8074 in Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1924 m elevation is the highest of 93 estates we map in Central Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Pedro estate — 2.1 km away · Nuwara Eliya
- Concordia Tea Estate — 3.1 km away · Kandapola
- Luckyland Tea Estate — 3.1 km away · Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd
- Agalawatte Plantations, Weddemulla — 4.3 km away
- Kotagala Plantations, Craigie Lea — 4.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge (1,924 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge recorded 2,798 mm in 2025, 60% more than the 1,744 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAPKATET | Moi Avenue, Kenya | 1,922 m | 1,984 mm | 22.4 °C |
| Warwick Estate | Kotagiri, India | 1,927 m | 1,459 mm | 19.9 °C |
| Kodanad Tea Estate | Gandhi nagar, India | 1,929 m | 1,459 mm | 19.9 °C |
| Kipchimchim Group, Tet Tea Factory Co. Ltd, Laibei | Kericho, Kenya | 1,915 m | 1,535 mm | 23.4 °C |
| Southtee Handel | Ximeng, China | 1,907 m | 2,285 mm | 20.0 °C |
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge Compared with Central Province
In Central Province, Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge is drier than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the highest of the 93 estates by elevation; the coolest of the 93 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge 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 | Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,924 m | 1,202 m | 37 to 1,912 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,798 mm | 3,206 mm | 2,071 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 19.1 °C | 23.1 °C | 19.3 to 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.8 °C | 16.4 °C | 12.4 to 22.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge’s coordinates recorded 2,798 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (809 mm) and the driest was February (57 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.1 °C and overnight lows 12.8 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,798 mm |
| Wettest month | November (809 mm) |
| Driest month | February (57 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 19.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge located?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge is in Central Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9843, 80.8074, at an elevation of about 1924 metres.
Who operates Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge is operated by Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge produce?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,798 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (809 mm).
How does Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge recorded 2,798 mm in 2025, 60% more rain than the 1,744 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].
