Kendalanda

Kendalanda is a tea estate situated in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 444 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major global tea procurement and blending company. The operating company is not currently on record.

Terroir & Climate

At 444 metres, Kendalanda falls within the low-grown category typical of Sri Lankan tea estates below approximately 600 metres. This elevation, combined with the tropical latitude of roughly 6.9°N, generally yields warmer growing conditions and a faster-growing cycle than the higher-elevation districts. Estates at this altitude in Sri Lanka tend to experience less diurnal temperature variation and more consistent warmth throughout the year, which typically accelerates leaf development.

Sabaragamuwa Province lies in the south-central wet zone of Sri Lanka, an area that typically receives substantial monsoon rainfall and maintains humid conditions favourable to year-round cultivation. The comparatively lower elevation often means that teas from this stratum develop more quickly and can be harvested more frequently, though the leaf character tends to differ from the slower-maturing, high-grown teas of the central highlands.

Tea Produced

Kendalanda produces black tea. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka at this elevation typically yield a bolder, more robust cup character with good body and colour. Estates in this altitude band often produce leaf that is suited to blending applications, where strength and consistent colour extraction are valued. The cup profile generally tends towards briskness and full-bodied character rather than the more delicate, nuanced aromatics associated with high-grown Ceylon teas.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kendalanda is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea companies, which operates extensive procurement, blending, and packing operations for retail and foodservice customers globally. This supply relationship indicates that Kendalanda's production is likely destined for the international blended-tea market, where consistency, volume capability, and competitive pricing are key factors. Finlays sources from numerous origins, and estates in its supply chain typically meet specifications for branded retail products and private-label programmes distributed across multiple markets.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kendalanda lies at 6.8575, 80.3940 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 444 m elevation is the 17th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Forest Hill Tea — 3.0 km away · Hospital Road Erathna
• Maliboda — 4.7 km away
• KDU, Deerwood — 6.6 km away
• Galahitiya — 9.0 km away
• Noori — 10 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kendalanda

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kendalanda (444 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kendalanda recorded 4,574 mm in 2025, 108% more than the 2,198 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
Casa Fuentes	Campo Grande, Argentina	442 m	1,707 mm	25.9 °C
Capell	RN14, Argentina	448 m	1,723 mm	25.9 °C
Mount Eliza	Central Province, Sri Lanka	439 m	3,329 mm	28.2 °C
KDU, Kuttapitiya	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	434 m	3,432 mm	27.6 °C
Young Tea Private Limited	Tamil Nadu, India	433 m	798 mm	32.2 °C

Kendalanda Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, Kendalanda is wetter than 96% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 78% of the others by elevation; cooler than 81% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kendalanda 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	Kendalanda	Region median	Region range
Elevation	444 m	164 m	26 to 1,355 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	4,574 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	20.2 °C	21.9 °C	15.7 to 23.0 °C

Observed Climate at Kendalanda (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kendalanda’s coordinates recorded 4,574 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (804 mm) and the driest was February (62 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.6 °C and overnight lows 20.2 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	4,574 mm
Wettest month	November (804 mm)
Driest month	February (62 mm)
Mean daily high	27.6 °C
Mean overnight low	20.2 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kendalanda located?

Kendalanda is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8575, 80.3940, at an elevation of about 444 metres.

What type of tea does Kendalanda produce?

Kendalanda is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kendalanda supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kendalanda as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Kendalanda receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,574 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (804 mm).

How does Kendalanda compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Kendalanda recorded 4,574 mm in 2025, 108% more rain than the 2,198 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].