In short: Deshika is a low-elevation tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, operating at 87 metres above sea level and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Deshika is a tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at 87 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major global tea packer and distributor. The operating company is not currently identified in available trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 87 metres elevation, Deshika occupies Sri Lanka's low-grown zone, where the tropical lowland climate tends to produce rapid vegetative growth and higher yields per hectare than the island's celebrated high-elevation districts. Estates at this altitude typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with seasonal monsoon rains rather than the cooler, mist-laden environment of the central highlands. These conditions generally encourage a faster flush cycle and more robust leaf development.
The latitude—just over six degrees north of the equator—means consistent day-length and temperature throughout the year, which tends to support continuous cropping without the pronounced dormancy seen in temperate tea regions. Lowland Sri Lankan terroir of this kind often yields leaf with a different polyphenol and catechin profile compared to high-grown Ceylon, typically resulting in teas with greater body and colour extraction. Sabaragamuwa Province, lying to the south-east of the central massif, generally receives reliable rainfall, though the precise microclimate and soil composition at any individual estate will shape final cup character.
Tea Produced
Deshika produces black tea. Estates at this low elevation in Sri Lanka typically yield teas with full body, good colour, and a straightforward, robust character that performs well in blends requiring strength and consistency. Low-grown Ceylon teas of this type tend to offer less aromatic complexity than their high-elevation counterparts but are valued for their briskness, depth of colour, and reliable infusion strength—qualities that make them well-suited to everyday blended products and tea-bag formats in major consumer markets.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Deshika is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea businesses, with operations spanning production, blending, packing, and distribution across multiple continents. Finlays supplies branded and private-label tea to retailers and foodservice clients globally, and the company's sourcing network draws on estates across all major origins. The estate's presence in Finlays' supply chain suggests its output meets the volume, consistency, and quality benchmarks required by a multinational packer serving mass-market and retail segments.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Deshika lies at 6.2631, 80.4917 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 87 m elevation is the 59th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Maturata Plantations, Anninkande — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- New South, Co, Op — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- Semidale — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- Nilwala — under 1 km away · Southern Province
- Dishan Valley — 1.1 km away · Southern Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Deshika
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Deshika (87 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Deshika recorded 2,626 mm in 2025, 25% less than the 3,489 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple Zed Tea Estate Private Limited | Panchagarh, Bangladesh | 87 m | 3,108 mm | 29.2 °C |
| SAGMOOTEA | Assam, India | 85 m | 2,851 mm | 29.1 °C |
| Tarajulie Tea Estate | Assam, India | 85 m | 3,305 mm | 28.7 °C |
| Kolonna | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 89 m | 4,426 mm | 30.3 °C |
| Hedigalla | Western Province, Sri Lanka | 90 m | 3,756 mm | 29.4 °C |
Deshika Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Deshika is drier than 91% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 78% of the others by elevation; warmer than 78% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Deshika 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 | Deshika | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 87 m | 167 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,626 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.1 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.8 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Deshika (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Deshika’s coordinates recorded 2,626 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (444 mm) and the driest was February (49 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.1 °C and overnight lows 22.8 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,626 mm |
| Wettest month | November (444 mm) |
| Driest month | February (49 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Deshika located?
Deshika is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2631, 80.4917, at an elevation of about 87 metres.
What type of tea does Deshika produce?
Deshika is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Deshika supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Deshika as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Deshika receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,626 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (444 mm).
How does Deshika compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Deshika recorded 2,626 mm in 2025, 25% less rain than the 3,489 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].