In short: Doralawitiyahena is a low-grown tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at 189 metres above sea level and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Doralawitiyahena is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 189 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major player in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 189 metres elevation, Doralawitiyahena sits firmly in Sri Lanka's low-grown tea belt, where the warm, humid conditions of the tropical lowlands typically permit rapid vegetative growth throughout much of the year. Estates at this altitude generally experience less diurnal temperature variation than their high-grown counterparts, and the consistent warmth tends to encourage vigorous flush cycles with shorter intervals between plucking rounds.
Sabaragamuwa Province, straddling the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka's south-western quadrant, typically receives substantial rainfall, particularly during the south-west monsoon. This combination of warmth, moisture and lower elevation generally favours robust leaf development and high yields, though the resultant teas tend to differ in character from the slower-grown, more delicate profiles associated with estates above 1,200 metres.
Tea Produced
Low-grown black teas from estates at this elevation in Sri Lanka typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with strong colour and a straightforward, malty character. These teas are generally valued for their strength and consistency rather than the aromatic complexity or brightness associated with higher elevations, and they often find favour in blends where body, depth of colour and reliable performance are priorities.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Doralawitiyahena is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with estates, blending facilities and a significant presence in the supply chains of major international tea brands. This relationship suggests that Doralawitiyahena's output is likely directed toward the blended tea market, where low-grown Ceylon teas are prized for their strength, colour and ability to anchor multi-origin formulations destined for retail and foodservice channels.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Doralawitiyahena lies at 6.4804, 80.7012 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 189 m elevation is the 34th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Hapugastenne Plantations, Springwood — 8.0 km away
- Allerton — 9.6 km away
- Hapugastenne Plantations, Hatherleigh — 9.6 km away
- Tea Lanka — 9.6 km away
- ACU — 13 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Doralawitiyahena
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Doralawitiyahena (189 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Doralawitiyahena recorded 2,018 mm in 2025, 6% more than the 1,902 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atelier Sueyoshi Seicha Llc | Soo-Shi, Japan | 187 m | 1,811 mm | 21.4 °C |
| Wuyi Jiulong Mountain Tea Base | Zhejiang Province, China | 193 m | 1,469 mm | 24.4 °C |
| Hannam Tea Estate | Seogwipo-si, Korea Republic Of | 185 m | 2,142 mm | 18.6 °C |
| Sirah Kencong | East Java Province, Indonesia | 184 m | 2,832 mm | 29.6 °C |
| Dbm International Trading Co Ltd | Xiuning, China | 195 m | 1,254 mm | 23.7 °C |
Doralawitiyahena Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Doralawitiyahena is the driest of the 75 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 55% of the others by elevation; warmer than 73% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Doralawitiyahena 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 | Doralawitiyahena | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 189 m | 164 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,018 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,392 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.0 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.6 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Doralawitiyahena (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Doralawitiyahena’s coordinates recorded 2,018 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (451 mm) and the driest was February (53 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.0 °C and overnight lows 22.6 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,018 mm |
| Wettest month | November (451 mm) |
| Driest month | February (53 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Doralawitiyahena located?
Doralawitiyahena is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.4804, 80.7012, at an elevation of about 189 metres.
What type of tea does Doralawitiyahena produce?
Doralawitiyahena is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Doralawitiyahena supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Doralawitiyahena as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Doralawitiyahena receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,018 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (451 mm).
How does Doralawitiyahena compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Doralawitiyahena recorded 2,018 mm in 2025, 6% more rain than the 1,902 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].