In short: Captain Garden is a low-grown black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at 34 metres above sea level and supplying Finlays.
Captain Garden is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at 34 metres above sea level near the coast. The estate is operated under the name Captain Garden and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, the global tea and horticulture company.
Terroir & Climate
At just 34 metres above sea level, Captain Garden occupies one of the lowest elevations in Sri Lanka's tea-growing landscape. Estates at this altitude in the Southern Province typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with little of the diurnal temperature variation that characterises the island's high-grown districts. The proximity to sea level generally accelerates the vegetative cycle, and the consistently warm climate tends to favour rapid, vigorous leaf growth.
Low-grown estates in this region often contend with higher ambient temperatures and greater humidity, conditions that can promote faster fermentation during processing. The terroir at this elevation usually yields a leaf with a different chemical profile to that of mid- or high-grown Ceylon teas, often with higher levels of certain polyphenols. The warm, coastal climate may also influence pest and disease pressure, as well as the frequency of plucking rounds throughout the year.
Tea Produced
Captain Garden produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon teas from estates at similar elevations in the Southern Province typically yield a full-bodied, robustly flavoured cup with good colour and strength. These teas tend to lack the delicate, bright notes associated with high-grown Ceylon but often deliver a more straightforward, malty character suited to blending and to applications where body and colour are priorities. Estates at this altitude generally produce leaf that performs well in commercial blends and can withstand the addition of milk.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Captain Garden is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major player in the global tea supply chain with sourcing, blending, and distribution operations across multiple continents. This relationship places the estate within a large-scale commercial network, suggesting that its output is likely destined for blending programmes rather than single-estate retail. Finlays' presence as a buyer indicates that Captain Garden's production meets the quality and consistency standards required for international commodity and branded tea markets.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Captain Garden lies at 6.0757, 80.2881 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 34 m elevation is the joint 77th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Golden Leaf — under 1 km away
- Kurunduwatta — 1.1 km away
- Liyota, Lickra — 2.0 km away
- Thalgampola — 2.2 km away
- New Kottawa Valley — 2.8 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Captain Garden
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Captain Garden (34 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Captain Garden recorded 3,195 mm in 2025, 57% more than the 2,034 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hafiz Tea Estate | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 33 m | 3,547 mm | 29.9 °C |
| Hunan Tea Group, Corporate | Hunan, China | 35 m | 1,348 mm | 24.8 °C |
| Shimen Liziping Tea Professional Cooperative (Shimen Liziping) | Xiangcha High-Tech Industrial Park Xiangcha, China | 35 m | 1,348 mm | 24.8 °C |
| Zealong Tea Estate Ltd | 495 Gordonton Road, New Zealand | 33 m | 1,438 mm | 19.2 °C |
| Mulatiyana Tea \u00a0Factory | B98, Sri Lanka | 35 m | 2,491 mm | 30.4 °C |
Captain Garden Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Captain Garden is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 59% of the others by elevation; cooler than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Captain Garden 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 | Captain Garden | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 34 m | 49 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,195 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.6 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.0 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Captain Garden (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Captain Garden’s coordinates recorded 3,195 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (526 mm) and the driest was February (77 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.6 °C and overnight lows 23.0 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,195 mm |
| Wettest month | November (526 mm) |
| Driest month | February (77 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Captain Garden located?
Captain Garden is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.0757, 80.2881, at an elevation of about 34 metres.
Who operates Captain Garden?
Captain Garden is operated by Captain Garden, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Captain Garden produce?
Captain Garden is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Captain Garden supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Captain Garden as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Captain Garden receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,195 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (526 mm).
How does Captain Garden compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Captain Garden recorded 3,195 mm in 2025, 57% more rain than the 2,034 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].
