Kongahawatte

Kongahawatte is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 163 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major participant in the global tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 163 metres, Kongahawatte sits well within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, where estates typically operate below 600 metres. This low elevation, combined with the tropical latitude of approximately 6.6°N, generally results in warmer temperatures and higher humidity year-round compared to the island's celebrated high-grown districts. Estates at this altitude often experience faster vegetative growth and more consistent cropping cycles, with less pronounced seasonal variation than their counterparts in the central highlands.

Low-grown Sri Lankan estates typically benefit from the island's bimodal monsoon pattern, though the reduced elevation tends to moderate the dramatic interplay of mist and sunshine that characterises higher districts. The warmer growing conditions at this altitude generally promote vigorous leaf development and can yield teas with a different chemical profile to those grown in cooler, slower-growing environments.

Tea Produced

Kongahawatte produces black tea. Low-grown Sri Lankan black teas generally tend to yield a bolder, more full-bodied cup than the island's high-grown offerings, often with stronger colour and a more straightforward character. Estates at this elevation typically produce leaf suited to blending applications and markets where strength and consistency are prioritised, though cup profile can vary considerably depending on processing choices and seasonal factors.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kongahawatte is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and beverage companies with extensive blending, packing, and distribution operations across multiple continents. This relationship suggests that the estate's output is likely destined for industrial-scale blending and branded retail products, rather than single-estate or speciality channels. Finlays' global footprint typically means that leaf from supplier estates may enter a wide range of consumer tea products, though the exact end markets and brands are rarely disclosed publicly.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kongahawatte 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:

• KDU, New Kandagastenne — 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 Kongahawatte

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kongahawatte (163 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kongahawatte 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

Kongahawatte Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, Kongahawatte 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 Kongahawatte 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	Kongahawatte	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 Kongahawatte (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kongahawatte’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 Kongahawatte located?

Kongahawatte is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.6216, 80.5559, at an elevation of about 163 metres.

What type of tea does Kongahawatte produce?

Kongahawatte is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kongahawatte supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kongahawatte as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Kongahawatte receive?

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

How does Kongahawatte compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Kongahawatte 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].