In short: Dampahala is a low-grown tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at 282 metres elevation and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Dampahala is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of 282 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the major buyers active in the Sri Lankan tea trade. The operator of Dampahala has not been publicly disclosed in available trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 282 metres elevation, Dampahala falls within the low-grown category of Sri Lankan tea production, a designation that typically applies to estates below approximately 600 metres. Estates at this altitude in the Southern Province generally experience warmer temperatures and higher humidity than their mid- or high-grown counterparts, conditions that tend to accelerate growth rates and influence the biochemical composition of the leaf. The Southern Province's proximity to the coast often brings additional moisture, and the combination of warmth and consistent rainfall typically supports year-round cropping with shorter intervals between plucking rounds.
Low-grown Ceylon teas are generally understood to develop more rapidly than high-elevation leaf, a function of temperature and metabolic activity in the plant. This faster growth cycle tends to favour quantity and certain flavour compounds associated with strength and body, though the specific soil composition, microclimate, and cultivation practices at any given estate will modulate these tendencies. Estates in this elevation band often produce teas destined for blending, where consistency, colour, and briskness are valued attributes in the cup.
Tea Produced
Dampahala produces black tea, the dominant category across Sri Lanka's low-grown regions. Teas from estates at this elevation in the Southern Province typically yield a darker liquor with robust body and brisk character, often exhibiting malty or earthy notes rather than the floral or bright profiles more commonly associated with high-grown Ceylon. The faster-growing leaf tends to produce teas valued for strength and colour, characteristics that make low-grown Ceylon a frequent component in breakfast blends and other applications where bold, reliable character is required.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Dampahala is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with significant sourcing, blending, and distribution operations across major tea-producing origins. Finlays' presence as a buyer suggests that Dampahala's output meets the specifications required for inclusion in commercial-scale supply chains, likely destined for blending or branded product lines serving retail and foodservice markets. The relationship positions Dampahala within the tier of estates supplying established multinational buyers, though the absence of further disclosed buyer relationships limits visibility into the full breadth of its market footprint.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Dampahala lies at 6.2688, 80.6307 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 282 m elevation is the 18th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Nilrich — 2.6 km away
- Andaradeniya Estate, Galaxy — 2.7 km away
- Pasgoda — 3.4 km away
- Sunrise — 3.4 km away
- Lakvinka — 3.6 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Dampahala
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Dampahala (282 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Dampahala recorded 2,210 mm in 2025, 24% less than the 2,915 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putharjhora Tea Garden Pvt. Ltd. | JALPAIGURI, India | 283 m | 3,002 mm | 27.7 °C |
| Ceciliyan | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 276 m | 3,214 mm | 29.6 °C |
| Harmutty | India, India | 291 m | 1,622 mm | 30.5 °C |
| Broadlands Tea Factory | Kalugala-Laxapana Rd, Sri Lanka | 297 m | 4,260 mm | 28.7 °C |
| Good Young Co. Ltd. | Longtan Dist, Taiwan | 301 m | 2,475 mm | 26.4 °C |
Dampahala Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Dampahala is the driest of the 134 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 87% of the others by elevation; cooler than 90% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Dampahala 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 | Dampahala | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 282 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 | 28.8 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.0 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Dampahala (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Dampahala’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 28.8 °C and overnight lows 22.0 °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 | 28.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dampahala located?
Dampahala is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2688, 80.6307, at an elevation of about 282 metres.
What type of tea does Dampahala produce?
Dampahala is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Dampahala supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Dampahala as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Dampahala receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,210 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (502 mm).
How does Dampahala compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Dampahala recorded 2,210 mm in 2025, 24% less rain than the 2,915 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].