In short: ACU is a low-elevation black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, recorded as supplying Finlays.
ACU is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 242 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, the multinational tea and horticulture business.
Terroir & Climate
At 242 metres, ACU falls within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, where estates typically experience warmer temperatures and higher humidity than their counterparts in the island's central highlands. This elevation and latitude generally support a year-round growing cycle with minimal seasonal dormancy, allowing for consistent leaf production throughout the year.
Low-grown estates in Sri Lanka's south-western wet zone, such as those in Sabaragamuwa Province, tend to receive substantial rainfall and benefit from rich alluvial soils. These conditions typically encourage vigorous vegetative growth and faster leaf development, characteristics that generally influence both yield and the style of tea produced at this altitude.
Tea Produced
ACU produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon teas from this elevation and region typically yield a full-bodied, briskly astringent cup with good colour and strength. Estates at similar altitudes in Sabaragamuwa Province often produce teas suited to blending, where body and consistency are valued over the more delicate, aromatic profiles associated with high-grown Ceylon. The relatively rapid leaf maturation at lower elevations generally contributes to a more robust, straightforward character in the finished tea.
Supply Chain & Market Position
ACU is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated company with tea estates, blending and packing operations, and a significant presence in the global tea supply chain. This relationship suggests that ACU's output is destined for Finlays' blending or contract manufacturing operations, which serve retail brands, foodservice customers, and own-label clients in multiple markets. Supplying a buyer of Finlays' scale typically indicates that the estate is expected to meet consistent quality and volume benchmarks suitable for commercial-grade black tea.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
ACU lies at 6.5196, 80.5926 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 242 m elevation is the 29th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- KDU, Nilvin View — 4.0 km away
- New Doralawitiyahena — 4.2 km away
- Kahawatte Plantations, Endane — 6.5 km away
- Allerton — 6.6 km away
- Hapugastenne Plantations, Hatherleigh — 6.6 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to ACU
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match ACU (242 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. ACU recorded 2,770 mm in 2025, 63% more than the 1,695 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yixian Qingye Tea Farm Co. Ltd - final packing and primary processing | Huang Shan, China | 241 m | 1,194 mm | 22.7 °C |
| Nilgiri | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 235 m | 2,624 mm | 29.8 °C |
| Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) | Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka | 232 m | 2,205 mm | 30.5 °C |
| Kairbetta Estate | Nilgiris, India | 231 m | 745 mm | 34.5 °C |
| Huzhou Jiasheng Tea Co., Ltd. | Zhejiang, China | 221 m | 1,708 mm | 22.1 °C |
ACU Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, ACU is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 62% of the others by elevation; cooler than 64% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets ACU against the 74 other estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | ACU | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 242 m | 164 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,770 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.0 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.9 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at ACU (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for ACU’s coordinates recorded 2,770 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (482 mm) and the driest was February (17 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.0 °C and overnight lows 21.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,770 mm |
| Wettest month | November (482 mm) |
| Driest month | February (17 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is ACU located?
ACU is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.5196, 80.5926, at an elevation of about 242 metres.
What type of tea does ACU produce?
ACU is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does ACU supply?
Public supplier disclosures record ACU as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does ACU receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,770 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (482 mm).
How does ACU compare with estates at a similar elevation?
ACU recorded 2,770 mm in 2025, 63% more rain than the 1,695 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].