In short: Kithulgala is a low-elevation tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, producing black tea and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Kithulgala is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 83 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major international tea and horticulture company.
Terroir & Climate
At 83 metres, Kithulgala sits well within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, where estates typically experience warmer, more humid conditions year-round than their high-elevation counterparts. This latitude, close to the equator, generally supports continuous vegetative growth with less pronounced seasonal dormancy. Low-grown Ceylon estates tend to produce leaf that flushes rapidly, often yielding higher volumes than mid- or high-elevation gardens.
The warm, wet climate characteristic of Sabaragamuwa Province's lower reaches typically encourages vigorous plant growth and faster oxidation during manufacture. Estates at this elevation often contend with higher rainfall and more consistent heat, conditions that generally favour strength and body in the made tea rather than the delicate aromatics associated with higher altitudes.
Tea Produced
Kithulgala produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon teas of this type typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with strength and colour well suited to blending. Estates at similar elevations in Sri Lanka generally produce teas with malty, earthy notes and a bold character, often prized for breakfast blends and for applications where body and astringency are valued over floral or citrus complexity. The rapid leaf growth common at lower altitudes tends to result in teas that brew dark and strong.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kithulgala is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the largest vertically integrated tea and horticulture businesses globally. Finlays sources extensively across Sri Lanka and other origins, blending and packing for major retail and foodservice brands worldwide. Supply to a buyer of this scale suggests that Kithulgala's output meets the quality and volume benchmarks required for international blending and distribution, positioning the estate within the bulk and branded segments of the global tea supply chain.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kithulgala lies at 6.9996, 80.3774 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 83 m elevation is the 60th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Misa, Garden Leaf — 1.2 km away
- Noori — 6.8 km away
- Bogawantalawa Plantations, Illuktenne — 8.2 km away
- Kolonna — 8.4 km away
- Pussellawa Plantations, Pambegama — 8.4 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kithulgala
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kithulgala (83 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kithulgala recorded 3,969 mm in 2025, 34% more than the 2,972 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hathikuli Tea Estate | Assam, India | 83 m | 2,735 mm | 29.2 °C |
| Monabarie Tea Estate | Monabari P.P. No.2, India | 83 m | 3,081 mm | 28.7 °C |
| Triple Zed Tea Estate Private Limited | Panchagarh, Bangladesh | 87 m | 3,108 mm | 29.2 °C |
| Deshika | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 87 m | 2,626 mm | 30.1 °C |
| Susantha | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 79 m | 3,310 mm | 30.0 °C |
Kithulgala Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Kithulgala is wetter than 74% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 80% of the others by elevation; warmer than 93% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kithulgala 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 | Kithulgala | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 83 m | 167 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,969 mm | 3,390 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.3 °C | 29.5 °C | 21.5 to 30.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.9 °C | 21.9 °C | 15.7 to 23.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Kithulgala (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kithulgala’s coordinates recorded 3,969 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (778 mm) and the driest was February (50 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.3 °C and overnight lows 21.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and November the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,969 mm |
| Wettest month | November (778 mm) |
| Driest month | February (50 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kithulgala located?
Kithulgala is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9996, 80.3774, at an elevation of about 83 metres.
What type of tea does Kithulgala produce?
Kithulgala is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kithulgala supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kithulgala as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kithulgala receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,969 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (778 mm).
How does Kithulgala compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kithulgala recorded 3,969 mm in 2025, 34% more rain than the 2,972 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].