KDU, Galpaditenne

KDU, Galpaditenne is a black tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 126 metres above sea level. It is operated by KDU, a company that manages six other estates recorded in industry directories. The estate is known to supply Finlays, a significant participant in the global tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 126 metres, KDU, Galpaditenne occupies a low-elevation position within Sri Lanka's tea-growing landscape. Estates at this altitude in the country's tropical zone generally experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with minimal temperature variation. Such environments typically support faster vegetative growth and a more continuous flush cycle than is found in higher-elevation districts.

Sabaragamuwa Province lies in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, and low-elevation gardens in this belt tend to receive ample monsoon rainfall. The combination of warmth, moisture and lower altitude usually produces a vigorous bush and relatively high yields, though the leaf character tends to differ from the more nuanced, slower-grown teas of mid- or high-elevation zones. Rapid growth cycles at this elevation often result in a bolder, more robust leaf style.

Tea Produced

KDU, Galpaditenne produces black tea. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka's wet zone typically yield a strong, full-bodied liquor with pronounced colour and a straightforward, malty character. The cup profile tends to be robust rather than delicate, with less complexity than high-elevation Ceylon teas but well-suited to blending and to markets that favour strength and consistency. The rapid leaf growth common at this altitude generally contributes to a bold infusion with good body.

Supply Chain & Market Position

KDU, Galpaditenne is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major international tea packer and blender with operations across multiple origins. This relationship indicates that the estate's output is integrated into larger commercial supply chains, likely destined for branded retail blends or foodservice channels. Low-elevation black teas of the kind produced here are often valued by buyers such as Finlays for their consistency, colour and blending utility, characteristics that suit high-volume, price-sensitive segments of the global tea market.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

The estate is operated by KDU, a company responsible for six other tea estates in industry records. This multi-estate portfolio suggests a degree of operational scale and integration, which typically supports centralised processing, logistics and market access. The presence of sibling estates under common management often allows for pooling of resources and standardisation of quality protocols across the group's production base.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KDU, Galpaditenne lies at 6.6641, 80.4825 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 126 m elevation is the 50th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• KDU, Matuwagalla — under 1 km away
• KDU, Peekview — under 1 km away
• Nawagamuwahena — under 1 km away
• Spring View — 1.1 km away
• Ferndale — 4.8 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KDU, Galpaditenne

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KDU, Galpaditenne (126 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KDU, Galpaditenne recorded 3,902 mm in 2025, 77% more than the 2,201 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
HAPJAN	Assam, India	126 m	3,282 mm	28.2 °C
Langarjhan Tea Estate	Assam, India	126 m	3,184 mm	28.3 °C
Zhejiang Wuyi Tea Base	P.R, China	128 m	1,604 mm	24.6 °C
I \u0026 M Smith	Western Cape, South Africa	124 m	313 mm	27.4 °C
Thammenna	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	129 m	2,624 mm	29.9 °C

KDU, Galpaditenne Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, KDU, Galpaditenne is wetter than 61% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 66% of the others by elevation; cooler than 53% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KDU, Galpaditenne 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	KDU, Galpaditenne	Region median	Region range
Elevation	126 m	167 m	26 to 1,355 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,902 mm	3,390 mm	2,018 to 4,839 mm
Mean daily high	29.5 °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 KDU, Galpaditenne (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KDU, Galpaditenne’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 29.5 °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	29.5 °C
Mean overnight low	22.0 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KDU, Galpaditenne located?

KDU, Galpaditenne is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6641, 80.4825, at an elevation of about 126 metres.

Who operates KDU, Galpaditenne?

KDU, Galpaditenne is operated by KDU, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does KDU, Galpaditenne produce?

KDU, Galpaditenne is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does KDU, Galpaditenne supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KDU, Galpaditenne as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does KDU, Galpaditenne receive?

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

How does KDU, Galpaditenne compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KDU, Galpaditenne recorded 3,902 mm in 2025, 77% more rain than the 2,201 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].