In short: Arbour Valley is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, situated at 339 metres elevation and known to supply Finlays.
Arbour Valley is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 339 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the major participants in the global tea trade. The operator of the estate is not publicly documented in available trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 339 metres, Arbour Valley falls within the low-grown category of Sri Lankan tea production, a designation that typically covers estates below approximately 600 metres elevation. Tea grown at this altitude in Sri Lanka's Southern Province generally experiences warmer temperatures and faster growth cycles than the mid- or high-grown zones further inland. These conditions tend to favour vigorous vegetative growth and year-round plucking with less pronounced seasonal dormancy.
The Southern Province's proximity to the coast can bring higher humidity and more consistent rainfall distribution than some inland districts, though microclimates vary considerably. Estates at this elevation typically produce leaf that matures quickly, a characteristic that tends to shape both yield patterns and the style of made tea. The combination of warmth, moisture, and lower altitude generally supports robust growth, though the specific soil composition and drainage of individual plots remain influential factors in the final character of the leaf.
Tea Produced
Arbour Valley produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's low-grown districts. Teas from estates at this elevation in the Southern Province typically yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with good colour and strength. The faster growth cycle associated with warmer, lower-altitude conditions often results in teas with pronounced body and depth rather than the delicate, bright aromatics more common in high-grown Ceylon. Such teas are generally valued in blending for their consistency, strength, and the robust base they provide, though cup character will vary with season, manufacture, and the specific grade produced.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Arbour Valley is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with plantation, processing, blending, and distribution operations across multiple origins. Finlays sources from estates in East Africa and Asia and serves retail, foodservice, and brand-owner customers globally. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that Arbour Valley's production enters an established supply chain with access to international markets, though the specific volumes, contractual arrangements, and end markets remain undisclosed in public records.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Arbour Valley lies at 6.3271, 80.6221 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 339 m elevation is the 14th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Rasa — 1.0 km away
- Lucky Dais — 1.6 km away
- Pothotuwa Tea Factory — 2.0 km away · Beralapanathara
- Porthotuwa Tea Factory — 2.0 km away · Kotapola - Urubokka - Mulatiyana Rd
- Urubokka — 2.2 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Arbour Valley
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Arbour Valley (339 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Arbour Valley recorded 2,210 mm in 2025, 14% less than the 2,584 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinz | AV.SARMIENTO 986 PISO 1 LOC. 9 ()OBERA MISIONE, Argentina | 339 m | 1,816 mm | 26.0 °C |
| Kegalle Plantations, Yataderiya | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 333 m | 3,540 mm | 29.2 °C |
| Packing Plant Italia | Misiones, Argentina | 349 m | 1,816 mm | 26.0 °C |
| Nurbong | West Bengal, India | 357 m | 2,666 mm | 27.2 °C |
| Danau Kembar | West Sumatra, Indonesia | 358 m | 3,083 mm | 30.3 °C |
Arbour Valley Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Arbour Valley is the driest of the 134 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 90% of the others by elevation; cooler than 92% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Arbour Valley against the 133 other estates we map in Southern Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Arbour Valley | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 339 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,210 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.7 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.9 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Arbour Valley (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Arbour Valley’s coordinates recorded 2,210 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (502 mm) and the driest was August (67 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.7 °C and overnight lows 21.9 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,210 mm |
| Wettest month | November (502 mm) |
| Driest month | August (67 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 21.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Arbour Valley located?
Arbour Valley is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.3271, 80.6221, at an elevation of about 339 metres.
What type of tea does Arbour Valley produce?
Arbour Valley is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Arbour Valley supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Arbour Valley as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Arbour Valley receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,210 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (502 mm).
How does Arbour Valley compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Arbour Valley recorded 2,210 mm in 2025, 14% less rain than the 2,584 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].