In short: Sherwood is a low-grown black tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Sherwood is a tea estate in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, situated at an elevation of 538 metres. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, the international tea and horticulture group. The operator of Sherwood is not publicly documented in available trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 538 metres, Sherwood falls within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, typically defined as estates below 600 metres elevation. This low-elevation band, especially in the warm, humid conditions common to Sabaragamuwa Province, tends to produce a faster-growing leaf with a different biochemical profile than that of the island's celebrated high-grown districts. Estates at this altitude generally experience year-round warmth and ample rainfall, which usually results in a more vigorous flush cycle.
Low-grown Sri Lankan teas are often grown in conditions that favour productivity and bold character over the delicate complexity prized at higher elevations. The combination of latitude—Sherwood lies just north of 6.7°N—and altitude typically yields a growing environment with minimal seasonal dormancy, allowing for near-continuous plucking throughout the year. This can influence both the volume and the style of tea produced.
Tea Produced
Sherwood produces black tea, the dominant category in Sri Lanka's low-grown zones. Teas from estates at this elevation in Sabaragamuwa Province typically yield a full-bodied, malty cup with strong colour and relatively robust tannin structure. Low-grown Ceylon blacks are generally prized by blenders for their strength and consistency rather than for aromatic complexity, and they often form the backbone of everyday blends and value-segment retail products. The precise cup profile of Sherwood's output will depend on plucking standards, processing protocols, and the specific microclimates within the estate, but it is reasonable to expect a bold, straightforward character in line with the region's broader tendencies.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Sherwood is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major vertically integrated player in the global tea trade with estates, blending operations, and brand partnerships across multiple continents. Finlays' supply chain encompasses both owned production and sourcing from independent estates, and its presence as a buyer suggests that Sherwood's output meets the quality and volume requirements of a large-scale commercial operation. This relationship typically signals that the estate's tea is destined for blending and distribution through mainstream retail and food-service channels, rather than for the specialty or single-estate market.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Sherwood lies at 6.7080, 80.6843 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 538 m elevation is the 8th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Balangoda Plantations, Cecilton — 2.9 km away
- Rasagalla — 5.1 km away · Ratnapura
- Walaboda — 5.1 km away · Ratnapura
- Balangoda Plantations, New Rasagalla — 5.4 km away
- Balangoda Tea Shakthi — 6.4 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Sherwood
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Sherwood (538 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Sherwood recorded 2,664 mm in 2025, 28% more than the 2,075 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dehiwatte | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 534 m | 2,513 mm | 27.6 °C |
| Alagalla | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 533 m | 2,615 mm | 28.0 °C |
| James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. | Guizhou province, China | 572 m | 1,604 mm | 22.2 °C |
| J Llorente Y Cias A | Misiones, Argentina | 482 m | 1,810 mm | 25.7 °C |
| Ariel | Route 14 / Km 962 / Dos de Mayo () Misiones, Argentina | 479 m | 1,831 mm | 25.3 °C |
Sherwood Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province
In Sabaragamuwa Province, Sherwood is drier than 89% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 91% of the others by elevation; cooler than 92% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Sherwood 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 | Sherwood | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 538 m | 164 m | 26 to 1,355 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,664 mm | 3,412 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 27.2 °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 Sherwood (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Sherwood’s coordinates recorded 2,664 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (629 mm) and the driest was February (44 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.2 °C and overnight lows 20.2 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,664 mm |
| Wettest month | November (629 mm) |
| Driest month | February (44 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sherwood located?
Sherwood is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.7080, 80.6843, at an elevation of about 538 metres.
What type of tea does Sherwood produce?
Sherwood is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Sherwood supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Sherwood as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Sherwood receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,664 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (629 mm).
How does Sherwood compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Sherwood recorded 2,664 mm in 2025, 28% more rain than the 2,075 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].