KDU, Matuwagalla

KDU, Matuwagalla is a black tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 120 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by KDU, a company that manages a portfolio of seven tea-producing properties recorded in our directory. It is known to supply Finlays, a significant buyer in the global tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 120 metres elevation, KDU, Matuwagalla occupies the low-grown category of Sri Lankan tea production. Estates at this altitude typically experience warmer temperatures and higher humidity than their mid- or high-elevation counterparts, conditions that generally favour faster, year-round growth with shorter intervals between plucking rounds. The low-grown belt in Sri Lanka tends to yield leaf that is robust in structure and vigorous in fermentation characteristics.

Sabaragamuwa Province, situated in the south-central part of the island at approximately 6.66° N latitude, lies in a zone that generally receives substantial rainfall distributed across two monsoon periods. This climatic rhythm typically promotes consistent vegetative flush, though estates at this elevation often contend with more variable quality across the season compared to the cooler highlands. The warm, humid environment tends to produce larger leaf and a faster oxidation profile during manufacture.

Tea Produced

As a black tea producer at low elevation, KDU, Matuwagalla would typically yield teas characterised by strength and body rather than the delicate aromatics associated with high-grown Ceylon. Low-grown Sri Lankan blacks generally brew to a dark, coppery liquor with a robust, malty profile and pronounced astringency. Estates in this elevation band often produce teas suited to blending applications where colour, strength, and reliable flavour delivery are priorities, rather than the nuanced, bright character of upcountry grades.

Supply Chain & Market Position

KDU, Matuwagalla is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major integrated tea business with operations spanning production, blending, and brand supply across multiple continents. This relationship situates the estate within a vertically structured supply chain, where output is likely directed toward blending programs for retail brands and foodservice rather than single-estate retail packaging. Supplying a buyer of Finlays' scale typically reflects capacity for consistent volume and adherence to quality assurance protocols appropriate to large-scale commercial tea markets.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

The estate is operated by KDU, which manages seven tea estates recorded in our directory. This multi-estate portfolio suggests a degree of operational scale and shared infrastructure, which may include centralised processing facilities, quality oversight, and consolidated marketing. Operating multiple properties can afford efficiencies in both production and buyer relations, though specific details of KDU's corporate structure and regional footprint are not publicly elaborated.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KDU, Matuwagalla lies at 6.6640, 80.4841 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 120 m elevation is the joint 52nd 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, Peekview — under 1 km away
• Nawagamuwahena — under 1 km away
• KDU, Galpaditenne — under 1 km away
• Spring View — 1.3 km away
• Ferndale — 4.9 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KDU, Matuwagalla

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KDU, Matuwagalla (120 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KDU, Matuwagalla recorded 3,902 mm in 2025, 64% more than the 2,376 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
Keyhung Tea Estate	Assam, India	120 m	3,374 mm	28.1 °C
Desam Tea Estate	Tairai Gaon, India	120 m	2,515 mm	28.5 °C
Andaradeniya Estate, Andaradeniya	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	120 m	3,054 mm	29.2 °C
Ceyenta	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	120 m	2,624 mm	29.9 °C
I \u0026 M Smith	Western Cape, South Africa	124 m	313 mm	27.4 °C

KDU, Matuwagalla Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, KDU, Matuwagalla is wetter than 61% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 72% of the others by elevation; cooler than 53% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KDU, Matuwagalla 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, Matuwagalla	Region median	Region range
Elevation	120 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, Matuwagalla (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KDU, Matuwagalla’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, Matuwagalla located?

KDU, Matuwagalla is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6640, 80.4841, at an elevation of about 120 metres.

Who operates KDU, Matuwagalla?

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

What type of tea does KDU, Matuwagalla produce?

KDU, Matuwagalla is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does KDU, Matuwagalla supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KDU, Matuwagalla as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does KDU, Matuwagalla 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, Matuwagalla compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KDU, Matuwagalla recorded 3,902 mm in 2025, 64% more rain than the 2,376 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].