In short: Balangoda Tea Shakthi is a black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Balangoda Tea Shakthi is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 502 metres. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major player in the global tea trade. The operating company is not publicly documented.
Terroir & Climate
At 502 metres elevation, Balangoda Tea Shakthi sits within what is typically classified as low-grown tea country in Sri Lanka. Estates at this altitude generally experience warmer temperatures and faster growth cycles than their high-grown counterparts, conditions that tend to favour robust leaf development and brisker liquor characteristics. The Sabaragamuwa Province, positioned in the south-central part of the island, is subject to both monsoon systems that influence Sri Lanka's tea regions, though the specific rainfall pattern and its distribution across the year will vary with precise location.
Low-grown Ceylon teas from this elevation band are often associated with estates that can maintain year-round production, as the warmer climate typically supports continuous flushing. The terroir at this altitude generally produces leaf that is well-suited to orthodox black tea manufacture, yielding good colour and strength in the cup. While high-grown Ceylon teas command premium prices for their delicacy, low-grown estates such as this one typically produce teas valued for body and consistency in blending.
Tea Produced
Balangoda Tea Shakthi produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lankan estates. Low-grown black teas from this elevation range in Sabaragamuwa Province typically yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with good colour and strength. Estates at similar altitudes often produce leaf that processes into teas with malty or slightly earthy notes, characteristics that tend to make them well-suited for blending purposes or for markets that favour robust breakfast-style infusions. The specific cup profile will vary with season, manufacturing technique, and leaf grade, but the altitude and regional climate generally predispose the tea towards accessibility and body rather than the floral or bright complexity associated with higher elevations.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Balangoda Tea Shakthi is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the largest and most vertically integrated tea businesses globally. Finlays operates as both estate owner and buyer, sourcing widely across origin countries for its blending, packing, and distribution operations that serve retail and foodservice clients worldwide. The presence of Finlays as a recorded buyer suggests that Balangoda Tea Shakthi's production is likely channelled into commercial blending programmes, where consistency, colour, and body are key selection criteria. Low-grown Sri Lankan black teas of this kind typically find their way into everyday branded blends and catering formats, valued for reliability and cost-effectiveness rather than single-origin prestige.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Balangoda Tea Shakthi lies at 6.6609, 80.7175 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 502 m elevation is the 15th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Rasagalla — 1.5 km away · Ratnapura
- Walaboda — 1.5 km away · Ratnapura
- Boscombe — 2.3 km away
- Kadigalahena — 2.3 km away
- Balangoda Plantations, Maratenne — 3.8 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Balangoda Tea Shakthi
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Balangoda Tea Shakthi (502 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Balangoda Tea Shakthi recorded 2,664 mm in 2025, 17% more than the 2,270 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richiland | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 507 m | 3,484 mm | 26.9 °C |
| Embilmeegama | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 510 m | 2,534 mm | 28.8 °C |
| J Llorente Y Cias A | Misiones, Argentina | 482 m | 1,810 mm | 25.7 °C |
| Ariel | Route 14 / Km 962 / Dos de Mayo () Misiones, Argentina | 479 m | 1,831 mm | 25.3 °C |
| Tianhua Luoping Tea Industry Co., Ltd. | China, China | 478 m | 1,689 mm | 22.3 °C |
Balangoda Tea Shakthi Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Balangoda Tea Shakthi is drier than 89% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 81% of the others by elevation; cooler than 91% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Balangoda Tea Shakthi 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 | Balangoda Tea Shakthi | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 502 m | 164 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,664 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 27.5 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.6 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Balangoda Tea Shakthi (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Balangoda Tea Shakthi’s coordinates recorded 2,664 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (629 mm) and the driest was February (44 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.5 °C and overnight lows 20.6 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,664 mm |
| Wettest month | November (629 mm) |
| Driest month | February (44 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Balangoda Tea Shakthi located?
Balangoda Tea Shakthi is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6609, 80.7175, at an elevation of about 502 metres.
What type of tea does Balangoda Tea Shakthi produce?
Balangoda Tea Shakthi is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Balangoda Tea Shakthi supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Balangoda Tea Shakthi as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Balangoda Tea Shakthi receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,664 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (629 mm).
How does Balangoda Tea Shakthi compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Balangoda Tea Shakthi recorded 2,664 mm in 2025, 17% more rain than the 2,270 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].