KDU, Kuttapitiya

KDU, Kuttapitiya is a black tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 434 metres. The estate is operated by KDU, a company with a presence across multiple tea-growing regions in Sri Lanka; KDU operates six other estates recorded in the TeaTrade directory. The estate is known to supply Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses.

Terroir & Climate

At 434 metres, KDU, Kuttapitiya falls within the low-grown category of Sri Lankan tea estates, a classification that typically encompasses gardens below 600 metres. Estates at this elevation generally experience warmer, more humid conditions than their high-grown counterparts, with faster vegetative growth and shorter intervals between plucking rounds. Sabaragamuwa Province, situated in the south-central interior of Sri Lanka, tends to receive substantial rainfall, particularly during the south-west monsoon months, which can drive vigorous flush cycles.

Low-grown Sri Lankan teas are often associated with a quicker oxidation process and a bolder, more robust leaf character. The warmer temperatures at this latitude and altitude typically favour rapid enzymatic activity during manufacture, which can contribute to the strength and colour in the cup. Estates in this elevation band are frequently oriented toward volume production of black tea for blending, though specific agronomic practices and processing decisions at each garden will naturally influence final leaf quality.

Tea Produced

KDU, Kuttapitiya produces black tea. Low-grown Sri Lankan black teas generally yield a full-bodied, malty cup with good colour and strength, characteristics that make them well-suited to breakfast blends and other applications where body and briskness are valued. Teas from estates at this elevation often exhibit a straightforward, robust character rather than the delicate, aromatic complexity associated with high-grown Ceylon teas. The cup profile typically emphasises strength and astringency, with a darker liquor and a hearty, workmanlike quality that appeals to blenders seeking dependable base material.

Supply Chain & Market Position

KDU, Kuttapitiya is recorded as supplying Finlays, a multinational tea and coffee company with extensive sourcing operations across all major tea origins. Finlays' involvement suggests that the estate's output is channelled into the global blending and private-label supply chain, likely serving retail brands, foodservice operators, and packet-tea manufacturers in Europe, North America, and other export markets. Estates that supply large intermediaries such as Finlays typically produce volume-oriented, consistent-quality black tea that meets the specifications of commodity and mid-market blends. This supply relationship positions KDU, Kuttapitiya as a participant in the industrial tier of the Sri Lankan tea sector, where reliability, scale, and cost competitiveness are key commercial drivers.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

KDU operates the estate and is recorded as the operator of six other tea estates in the TeaTrade directory, indicating a multi-site presence within the Sri Lankan tea industry. This scale of operation suggests a degree of vertical integration and administrative capacity, with shared management, processing infrastructure, or marketing channels potentially spread across the group's portfolio. Multi-estate operators in Sri Lanka often benefit from economies of scale in procurement, logistics, and buyer relationships, which can be particularly important when supplying large international customers.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KDU, Kuttapitiya lies at 6.6444, 80.5645 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 434 m elevation is the 18th 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, New Kandagastenne — 2.7 km away
• Kongahawatte — 2.7 km away
• Kamarangapitiya — 3.6 km away
• Kahawatte Plantations, Hunuwella — 4.0 km away
• Kahawatte Plantations, Opatha — 4.0 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KDU, Kuttapitiya

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KDU, Kuttapitiya (434 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KDU, Kuttapitiya recorded 3,432 mm in 2025, 41% more than the 2,426 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
Young Tea Private Limited	Tamil Nadu, India	433 m	798 mm	32.2 °C
Mount Eliza	Central Province, Sri Lanka	439 m	3,329 mm	28.2 °C
Casa Fuentes	Campo Grande, Argentina	442 m	1,707 mm	25.9 °C
Kendalanda	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	444 m	4,574 mm	27.6 °C
Capell	RN14, Argentina	448 m	1,723 mm	25.9 °C

KDU, Kuttapitiya Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, KDU, Kuttapitiya is wetter than 54% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 77% of the others by elevation; cooler than 81% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KDU, Kuttapitiya 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, Kuttapitiya	Region median	Region range
Elevation	434 m	164 m	26 to 1,355 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,432 mm	3,390 mm	2,018 to 4,839 mm
Mean daily high	27.6 °C	29.5 °C	21.5 to 30.9 °C
Mean overnight low	20.5 °C	21.9 °C	15.7 to 23.0 °C

Observed Climate at KDU, Kuttapitiya (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KDU, Kuttapitiya’s coordinates recorded 3,432 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (639 mm) and the driest was February (59 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.6 °C and overnight lows 20.5 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,432 mm
Wettest month	November (639 mm)
Driest month	February (59 mm)
Mean daily high	27.6 °C
Mean overnight low	20.5 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KDU, Kuttapitiya located?

KDU, Kuttapitiya is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6444, 80.5645, at an elevation of about 434 metres.

Who operates KDU, Kuttapitiya?

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

What type of tea does KDU, Kuttapitiya produce?

KDU, Kuttapitiya is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does KDU, Kuttapitiya supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KDU, Kuttapitiya as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does KDU, Kuttapitiya receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,432 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (639 mm).

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

KDU, Kuttapitiya recorded 3,432 mm in 2025, 41% more rain than the 2,426 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].