Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 168 metres. The estate is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major player in the global tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 168 metres above sea level, Rilhena sits within the mid-elevation band that characterises much of Sabaragamuwa Province's tea-growing terrain. Estates at this altitude in Sri Lanka typically experience a moderate tropical climate, with temperatures that are cooler than the lowlands but warmer than the high-grown districts above 1,200 metres. This elevation generally supports a relatively vigorous growing cycle, though the interplay of monsoon patterns and localised topography can introduce considerable variation.

The latitude of approximately 6.8° north places the estate within the equatorial belt, where day length remains fairly constant throughout the year and seasonal shifts are defined more by rainfall than by temperature. Mid-elevation gardens in this region often benefit from a balance between the yield potential of lower altitudes and the developing complexity that cooler nights and moderate stress can encourage in the leaf. Soils in Sabaragamuwa tend to be lateritic, and drainage, slope aspect, and microclimatic pockets all play a role in shaping the character of the crop.

Tea Produced

Rilhena produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's mid-elevation estates. Teas from this altitude range in Sabaragamuwa Province typically yield a medium-bodied cup with moderate brightness and a rounded, approachable character. Mid-growns often strike a balance between the strength and colour of low-elevation leaf and the more nuanced aromatics associated with higher estates, though cup profiles can vary widely depending on processing method, plucking standard, and seasonal conditions. Buyers looking for consistent, versatile black teas for blending or everyday retail often turn to this elevation band.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Rilhena is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with a substantial presence in Sri Lanka and operations spanning production, blending, and distribution. The relationship indicates that the estate's output enters a professional supply chain serving retail brands, food-service clients, and private-label programmes in multiple markets. Finlays' procurement footprint in Sri Lanka is extensive, and estates that supply the company are typically expected to meet consistent quality and traceability standards, reflecting the demands of downstream buyers in Europe, North America, and beyond.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena lies at 6.6296, 80.5211 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 168 m elevation is the 37th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Kahawatte Plantations, Opatha — 1.1 km away
• New Temple View — 1.1 km away
• Kahawatte Plantations, Hunuwella — 1.1 km away
• KDU, New Kandagastenne — 3.9 km away
• Kongahawatte — 3.9 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena (168 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena recorded 3,902 mm in 2025, 71% more than the 2,287 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
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
Labookellie Estate	Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka	170 m	2,570 mm	31.3 °C
Mcleod Russel India Ltd, Bhooteachang Tea Factory	Assam, India	165 m	1,742 mm	29.1 °C
Hre\u00f1uk Sa	Misiones, Argentina	173 m	1,860 mm	26.5 °C

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena is wetter than 61% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 51% of the others by elevation; warmer than 58% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena 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, Rilhena	Region median	Region range
Elevation	168 m	164 m	26 to 1,355 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,902 mm	3,390 mm	2,018 to 4,839 mm
Mean daily high	29.6 °C	29.5 °C	21.5 to 30.9 °C
Mean overnight low	22.0 °C	21.9 °C	15.7 to 23.0 °C

Observed Climate at Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena’s coordinates recorded 3,902 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (576 mm) and the driest was February (59 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.6 °C and overnight lows 22.0 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,902 mm
Wettest month	November (576 mm)
Driest month	February (59 mm)
Mean daily high	29.6 °C
Mean overnight low	22.0 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena located?

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6296, 80.5211, at an elevation of about 168 metres.

Who operates Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena?

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena is operated by Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena produce?

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,902 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (576 mm).

How does Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Kahawatte Plantations, Rilhena recorded 3,902 mm in 2025, 71% more rain than the 2,287 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].