In short: KDU, New Kandagastenne is a low-grown black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, operated by KDU and recorded as supplying Finlays.
KDU, New Kandagastenne is a black tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 163 metres. The estate is operated by KDU, a company that manages at least six other tea properties recorded in industry directories. It is known to supply Finlays, one of the principal buyers and processors in the Sri Lankan tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 163 metres above sea level, KDU, New Kandagastenne falls firmly within Sri Lanka's low-grown category, a designation that typically encompasses estates below approximately 600 metres. This elevation band, common in the island's western and southern districts, generally experiences warmer temperatures and higher humidity than the more celebrated high-grown zones. These conditions tend to encourage faster vegetative growth and year-round cropping cycles, with less pronounced dormancy during cooler months.
Sabaragamuwa Province, situated in the south-central part of the country, receives substantial monsoon rainfall and enjoys relatively stable temperatures throughout the year. Estates at this latitude and altitude often benefit from deep alluvial soils and consistent moisture, factors that typically support robust leaf development and high yields. The warmer growing environment generally results in a more rapid flush cycle, allowing for frequent plucking rounds, though the leaf chemistry—particularly polyphenol and aromatic compound accumulation—tends to differ from that of teas grown at higher, cooler elevations.
Tea Produced
KDU, New Kandagastenne produces black tea, the dominant manufactured type in Sri Lanka's low-grown sector. Teas from estates at this elevation typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with strong colour and a straightforward, malty character. The warmer growing conditions generally favour the development of bold, astringent profiles rather than the delicate, nuanced aromatics associated with high-grown Ceylon teas. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka are often valued in blending for their strength, consistency, and deep liquor, characteristics that tend to suit bulk commodity markets and value-focused segments of the global tea trade.
Supply Chain & Market Position
KDU, New Kandagastenne is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive sourcing, processing, and blending operations across Sri Lanka and East Africa. Finlays' position as a buyer indicates that production from this estate likely enters broader commercial supply chains, serving international brands, retail packers, and foodservice accounts. The relationship suggests that KDU, New Kandagastenne is positioned within the commodity and mid-market segments of the industry, where consistency, volume, and competitive pricing are valued over origin differentiation or estate-specific branding.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
KDU operates this estate along with at least six other tea properties recorded in industry directories, indicating a multi-estate operation with a meaningful footprint in Sri Lanka's plantation sector. The scale of KDU's holdings suggests a degree of operational integration and shared management infrastructure across its portfolio, though detailed public information about the company's ownership structure, history, and total production capacity remains limited in available trade records.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
KDU, New Kandagastenne lies at 6.6216, 80.5559 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 163 m elevation is the joint 39th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Kongahawatte — under 1 km away
- Kamarangapitiya — 2.1 km away
- KDU, Kuttapitiya — 2.7 km away
- Kahawatte Plantations, Hunuwella — 3.2 km away
- Kahawatte Plantations, Opatha — 3.2 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to KDU, New Kandagastenne
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KDU, New Kandagastenne (163 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KDU, New Kandagastenne recorded 3,432 mm in 2025, 41% more than the 2,439 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirial Tea Estate | Tinsukia, India | 163 m | 2,919 mm | 28.6 °C |
| Liyonta | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 163 m | 3,051 mm | 29.3 °C |
| Walawwatta | Western Province, Sri Lanka | 163 m | 2,624 mm | 29.7 °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 |
KDU, New Kandagastenne Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, KDU, New Kandagastenne is wetter than 54% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 53% of the others by elevation; cooler than 59% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KDU, New Kandagastenne 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, New Kandagastenne | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 163 m | 167 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,432 mm | 3,390 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.4 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.2 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at KDU, New Kandagastenne (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KDU, New Kandagastenne’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 29.4 °C and overnight lows 22.2 °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 | 29.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is KDU, New Kandagastenne located?
KDU, New Kandagastenne is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6216, 80.5559, at an elevation of about 163 metres.
Who operates KDU, New Kandagastenne?
KDU, New Kandagastenne is operated by KDU, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does KDU, New Kandagastenne produce?
KDU, New Kandagastenne is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does KDU, New Kandagastenne supply?
Public supplier disclosures record KDU, New Kandagastenne as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does KDU, New Kandagastenne 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, New Kandagastenne compare with estates at a similar elevation?
KDU, New Kandagastenne recorded 3,432 mm in 2025, 41% more rain than the 2,439 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].