Davidson

Davidson is a tea estate situated in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an altitude of just 26 metres above sea level. The operator is not currently recorded in available trade documentation. The estate is known to supply Finlays, one of the major actors in the global tea supply chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 26 metres above sea level, Davidson occupies a low-elevation position characteristic of Sri Lanka's coastal and near-coastal tea-growing areas. Estates at this altitude typically experience warmer, more humid conditions than their counterparts in the central highlands, with less pronounced diurnal temperature variation. The Southern Province's equatorial latitude generally supports year-round growth, though monsoon patterns tend to create distinct wet and dry periods that shape the character of the leaf.

Low-grown Ceylon teas—those produced below approximately 600 metres—tend to yield a faster-growing, more robust leaf than high-elevation gardens. The warmer growing environment at this altitude often encourages vigorous flush cycles, and the resulting made tea is generally understood to produce a darker liquor with fuller body, though typically less aromatic complexity than high-grown Ceylon.

Tea Produced

Davidson produces black tea. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka's Southern Province generally yield a strong, full-bodied cup with good colour and a straightforward, malty character. Estates at this elevation tend to supply leaf suited to blending applications, where strength and consistency are valued over the delicate, bright notes associated with high-altitude Ceylon. The cup profile is typically robust and brisk, qualities that have long made low-grown Ceylon a staple in both the auction system and contract supply.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Davidson is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with plantation, processing, blending, and export operations across multiple origins. Finlays sources from estates worldwide to serve retail brands, foodservice clients, and ready-to-drink manufacturers. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that Davidson's output enters a global supply chain serving volume markets, where consistency, strength, and competitive pricing are key. Low-grown Ceylon black tea of the kind produced at Davidson is typically destined for blends rather than single-estate retail, reflecting the estate's role as a supplier of dependable, commodity-grade leaf.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Davidson lies at 6.1242, 80.2776 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 26 m elevation is the joint 91st highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Ruwanthanne — under 1 km away
• Nehinigala — 1.6 km away
• Rathna — 1.7 km away
• Imbulgahagoda — 2.9 km away
• Ivy Valley — 3.8 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Davidson

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Davidson (26 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Davidson recorded 3,412 mm in 2025, 29% more than the 2,644 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
Hangzhou Kainong Factory	Zhejiang, China	26 m	1,280 mm	24.8 °C
BHUBRIGHAT TEA ESTATE	ASSAM, India	26 m	3,022 mm	30.0 °C
Agalawatte Plantations, Doloswella	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	26 m	4,458 mm	30.2 °C
Chandpur Belgaon tea Estate Factory	Chattogram, Bangladesh	25 m	2,165 mm	29.7 °C
Premnagar Tea Estate	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	25 m	2,296 mm	30.2 °C

Davidson Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Davidson is wetter than 80% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 69% of the others by elevation; cooler than 51% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Davidson 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	Davidson	Region median	Region range
Elevation	26 m	49 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,412 mm	3,022 mm	2,210 to 3,589 mm
Mean daily high	29.8 °C	29.8 °C	25.9 to 30.5 °C
Mean overnight low	22.5 °C	22.6 °C	18.2 to 24.1 °C

Observed Climate at Davidson (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Davidson’s coordinates recorded 3,412 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (533 mm) and the driest was February (78 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.8 °C and overnight lows 22.5 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,412 mm
Wettest month	November (533 mm)
Driest month	February (78 mm)
Mean daily high	29.8 °C
Mean overnight low	22.5 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Davidson located?

Davidson is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1242, 80.2776, at an elevation of about 26 metres.

What type of tea does Davidson produce?

Davidson is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Davidson supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Davidson as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Davidson receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,412 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (533 mm).

How does Davidson compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Davidson recorded 3,412 mm in 2025, 29% more rain than the 2,644 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].