In short: Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala, is a black tea producer in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at 61 metres above sea level, recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala, is a low-grown tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at 61 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala, and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the major multinational tea buyers and blenders in the global supply chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 61 metres above sea level, Andaradeniya Estate occupies one of the lowest elevation bands in Sri Lankan tea cultivation, close to sea level in the wet southwestern lowlands of Sabaragamuwa Province. Estates at this altitude typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with mean temperatures that remain relatively stable and rainfall that can be abundant, particularly during the southwest monsoon season. This low-elevation environment generally promotes vigorous vegetative growth and rapid leaf flush cycles.
The combination of warmth, moisture, and minimal diurnal temperature variation at this latitude and elevation tends to yield a different leaf character to that found in Sri Lanka's celebrated high-grown districts. Low-grown teas from this part of the island often develop more quickly on the bush, and the climate typically favours high volumes of leaf production rather than the slow maturation associated with cooler, higher-altitude gardens.
Tea Produced
Andaradeniya Estate produces black tea. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka's southwestern provinces typically yield full-bodied, robust liquors with pronounced strength and colour. The warmer growing conditions at elevations such as 61 metres tend to favour teas that are less delicate and aromatic than high-grown Ceylon varieties, but which offer good body and depth of flavour, characteristics often valued for blending. Estates in this zone generally produce teas suited to everyday blends and value segments of the market.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Andaradeniya Estate is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major international tea company with significant sourcing, blending, and packing operations across East Africa and Asia. Finlays' role as a buyer suggests that the estate's output is integrated into commercial supply chains serving branded tea companies and retail private-label programmes globally. The presence of Finlays as a recorded buyer indicates that Andaradeniya's production meets the volume, consistency, and quality benchmarks required for large-scale blending and commodity tea markets.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala lies at 6.5867, 80.4415 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 61 m elevation is the 63rd highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Evergreen Group, Karawita — 2.7 km away
- Aennen — 4.7 km away
- Haughton — 6.1 km away
- Wewelkandura — 6.5 km away
- New Vithanakanda — 6.6 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala (61 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala recorded 3,214 mm in 2025, 11% more than the 2,887 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karotoa Bohumukhi somobay somiti Factory Ltd. | Panchagarh, Bangladesh | 60 m | 2,252 mm | 29.0 °C |
| Attareekhat Tea Estate | Darrang, India | 62 m | 2,556 mm | 29.5 °C |
| Gangasiri | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 62 m | 3,443 mm | 30.0 °C |
| Liyota, Lickra | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 62 m | 3,195 mm | 29.6 °C |
| South Asiatic Tea Co., Ltd | Sanzhi District, Taiwan | 60 m | 2,989 mm | 25.5 °C |
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala is drier than 65% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 84% of the others by elevation; warmer than 99% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala 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 | Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 61 m | 167 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,214 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.5 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.9 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala’s coordinates recorded 3,214 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (516 mm) and the driest was February (39 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.5 °C and overnight lows 22.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,214 mm |
| Wettest month | November (516 mm) |
| Driest month | February (39 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala located?
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.5867, 80.4415, at an elevation of about 61 metres.
Who operates Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala?
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala is operated by Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala produce?
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,214 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (516 mm).
How does Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Andaradeniya Estate, Nivithigala recorded 3,214 mm in 2025, 11% more rain than the 2,887 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].
