In short: Kamarangapitiya is a black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at 147 metres above sea level and known to supply Finlays.
Kamarangapitiya is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 147 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the global tea trade's established players.
Terroir & Climate
At 147 metres, Kamarangapitiya sits in Sri Lanka's low-grown tea belt, where the tropical lowland climate typically delivers year-round warmth and humidity. Estates at this elevation generally experience faster vegetative growth than their high-grown counterparts, with flush cycles that tend to be more frequent and yields that are often higher per hectare. The proximity to sea level and the equatorial latitude mean that temperature variation is usually modest, and rainfall patterns in Sabaragamuwa Province tend to be influenced by both monsoon systems that affect the island.
Low-grown Sri Lankan estates are often characterised by deep, well-weathered soils that can support vigorous tea bushes. The combination of warmth, moisture, and lower altitude generally favours rapid leaf expansion, which tends to result in a different biochemical profile from that of slower-growing high-elevation leaf. While specific soil composition and microclimate vary from site to site, the broader terroir of the lowland zone typically lends itself to teas with strength and body rather than the more delicate aromatics associated with cooler, higher regions.
Tea Produced
Kamarangapitiya produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon black teas from estates at similar elevations typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with good colour and strength. The faster growth rates common at this altitude often result in leaves that produce liquors with pronounced maltiness, a solid tannic structure, and a straightforward, assertive character. These teas tend to perform well in blends where body and consistency are valued, and they generally take milk without losing presence. While high-grown Ceylon teas are often prized for brightness and floral complexity, low-grown offerings such as those from Sabaragamuwa Province are more usually appreciated for their dependable strength and commercial versatility.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kamarangapitiya is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with a significant presence across sourcing, blending, and distribution. Finlays operates estates, buying offices, and blending facilities in multiple origins and serves both retail brands and foodservice clients globally. The estate's inclusion in Finlays' supply base suggests that its output meets the quality and consistency benchmarks required by a buyer with an extensive international customer portfolio. For a low-grown Sri Lankan estate, securing a relationship with such a buyer typically indicates reliable production standards and the ability to deliver the strong, blendable leaf that bulk and branded markets require.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kamarangapitiya lies at 6.6136, 80.5732 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 147 m elevation is the 45th 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, Nilagama — 1.7 km away
- KDU, New Kandagastenne — 2.1 km away
- Kongahawatte — 2.1 km away
- KDU, Kuttapitiya — 3.6 km away
- Kahawatte Plantations, Hunuwella — 5.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kamarangapitiya
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kamarangapitiya (147 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kamarangapitiya recorded 2,770 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 2,709 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.
| Estate | Where | Elevation | Rain 2025 | Mean high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahendra | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 147 m | 3,051 mm | 29.3 °C |
| Anhui Huangshan United Keemun Tea Co., Ltd. - Office and Factory | Anhui Huangshan Eoconomic Development Zone, China | 149 m | 1,408 mm | 24.6 °C |
| Powai Tea Estate | Agbandha Bangali, India | 145 m | 2,919 mm | 28.2 °C |
| Corramore Tea Estate | Assam, India | 145 m | 1,742 mm | 28.8 °C |
| Pussellawa Plantations, Pambegama | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 142 m | 4,426 mm | 30.2 °C |
Kamarangapitiya Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Kamarangapitiya is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 59% of the others by elevation; warmer than 65% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kamarangapitiya 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 | Kamarangapitiya | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 147 m | 167 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,770 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.7 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.5 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Kamarangapitiya (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kamarangapitiya’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 29.7 °C and overnight lows 22.5 °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 | 29.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kamarangapitiya located?
Kamarangapitiya is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6136, 80.5732, at an elevation of about 147 metres.
What type of tea does Kamarangapitiya produce?
Kamarangapitiya is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kamarangapitiya supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kamarangapitiya as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kamarangapitiya receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,770 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (482 mm).
How does Kamarangapitiya compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 2,709 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 2,770 mm at Kamarangapitiya.
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].