In short: Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is a black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at 166 metres elevation, known to supply Finlays.
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is a black tea estate situated in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an altitude of 166 metres. The estate is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, the multinational tea and horticulture group.
Terroir & Climate
At 166 metres above sea level, the estate sits well within the low-elevation band typical of Sri Lanka's lowland tea zones. Estates at this altitude generally experience warmer temperatures and more consistent rainfall throughout the year than their high-grown counterparts, conditions that tend to favour faster vegetative growth and year-round production. The Sabaragamuwa Province, located in the south-central part of the island, is positioned within the wet zone, where estates typically benefit from generous monsoon influence and high humidity.
Low-elevation Sri Lankan estates often contend with a growing environment that encourages vigorous leaf expansion, which can result in higher yields but typically produces teas with different characteristics from those grown at higher altitudes. The warmer microclimate at this elevation generally shortens the interval between plucking rounds, and the reduced diurnal temperature variation tends to influence the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the leaf. Estates in this zone often produce teas destined for blending or value segments of the market.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea, the category that dominates Sri Lankan output. Low-elevation black teas from Sri Lanka typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with pronounced strength and colour, characteristics often sought after by blenders for use in breakfast-style blends and bulk markets. Teas from estates at this altitude generally exhibit bolder, more straightforward flavour profiles than the delicate, nuanced character associated with high-grown Ceylon teas, and tend to deliver consistent colour and body rather than aromatic complexity.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a significant global player in tea sourcing, blending, and distribution. Finlays operates across the tea supply chain from estate management through to branded and private-label tea packing, and sources from estates worldwide to meet specifications for multinational buyers. Supply relationships with such intermediaries typically indicate that the estate's production enters bulk or blended channels rather than being marketed as a single-estate or origin product, positioning the estate within the commodity or value segment of the international tea trade.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama lies at 6.5993, 80.5777 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 166 m elevation is the 38th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Kamarangapitiya — 1.7 km away
- KDU, New Kandagastenne — 3.5 km away
- Kongahawatte — 3.5 km away
- Kahawatte Plantations, Poronuwa — 4.7 km away
- New Doralawitiyahena — 4.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama (166 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama recorded 2,770 mm in 2025, 16% more than the 2,383 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mcleod Russel India Ltd, Bhooteachang Tea Factory | Assam, India | 165 m | 1,742 mm | 29.1 °C |
| Dirok Tea Estate | Assam, India | 168 m | 2,919 mm | 28.6 °C |
| Kudapana | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 169 m | 2,342 mm | 29.6 °C |
| Liyonta | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 163 m | 3,051 mm | 29.3 °C |
| Hre\u00f1uk Sa | Misiones, Argentina | 173 m | 1,860 mm | 26.5 °C |
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 50% of the others by elevation; cooler than 53% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama 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 | Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 166 m | 166 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,770 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.5 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.4 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama’s coordinates recorded 2,770 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (482 mm) and the driest was February (17 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.5 °C and overnight lows 22.4 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,770 mm |
| Wettest month | November (482 mm) |
| Driest month | February (17 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama located?
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.5993, 80.5777, at an elevation of about 166 metres.
Who operates Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama?
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama produce?
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,770 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (482 mm).
How does Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama recorded 2,770 mm in 2025, 16% more rain than the 2,383 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].
