In short: Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne is a black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, located at 137 metres elevation and known to supply Finlays.
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne is a tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at an elevation of 137 metres. The estate is operated by Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne and is known to supply the tea trading firm Finlays.
Terroir & Climate
At 137 metres above sea level, this estate lies in the low-grown zone of Sri Lanka's tea geography, where the tropical lowland climate typically brings warm, humid conditions year-round. Estates at this elevation generally experience more consistent temperatures and higher rainfall than their high-grown counterparts, factors which tend to encourage vigorous, rapid leaf growth.
Low-grown Ceylon teas are often characterised by a faster plucking cycle, with the warmer conditions typically producing greater biomass. The humidity and heat common to Sabaragamuwa's lower altitudes can favour robust vegetative development, though the specific interplay of rainfall patterns, soil drainage and microclimate varies between individual gardens.
Tea Produced
Illuktenne produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon blacks from estates in this elevation band typically yield a darker liquor with a fuller body and stronger, more straightforward flavour profile than the delicate, bright high-grown styles. Teas from the lowland zones of Sri Lanka are often noted for their colour and strength in the cup, qualities which tend to suit blending applications and markets where robustness is valued over aromatic complexity.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major global tea trading and blending house. This connection places Illuktenne within the mainstream of Sri Lanka's export-oriented supply chain, where low-grown black teas typically move through established trading channels to serve international blenders and branded tea buyers. The presence of a large-scale intermediary such as Finlays suggests that production from this estate is likely destined for commodity or commercial blend markets rather than single-estate retail.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne lies at 6.9451, 80.3277 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 137 m elevation is the 49th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Kolonna — 1.6 km away
- Pussellawa Plantations, Pambegama — 2.4 km away
- Kithulgala — 8.2 km away
- Noori — 8.9 km away
- Misa, Garden Leaf — 9.1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne (137 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne recorded 4,426 mm in 2025, 74% more than the 2,549 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anhui Huangshan United Keemun Tea Co., Ltd. - Factory | Huangshan City, China | 137 m | 1,216 mm | 24.9 °C |
| Koomsong Tea Estate | Kumchang T.E. No-15/25/63 Wl-, India | 136 m | 3,278 mm | 27.8 °C |
| Himara | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 138 m | 3,509 mm | 29.2 °C |
| Samukirana | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 138 m | 2,234 mm | 30.5 °C |
| LAMABARI | Assam, India | 139 m | 2,507 mm | 29.5 °C |
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne is wetter than 82% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 65% of the others by elevation; warmer than 70% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne 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 | Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 137 m | 167 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 4,426 mm | 3,390 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.9 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.5 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne’s coordinates recorded 4,426 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (665 mm) and the driest was February (52 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.9 °C and overnight lows 21.5 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 4,426 mm |
| Wettest month | November (665 mm) |
| Driest month | February (52 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne located?
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9451, 80.3277, at an elevation of about 137 metres.
Who operates Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne?
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne is operated by Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne produce?
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,426 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (665 mm).
How does Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne recorded 4,426 mm in 2025, 74% more rain than the 2,549 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].
