In short: Evergreen Group, Katandola is a low-elevation black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operated by Evergreen Group and known to supply Finlays.
Evergreen Group, Katandola is a black tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 34 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Evergreen Group and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major buyer in the international tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 34 metres above sea level, Katandola sits firmly within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea belt, where warm, humid conditions and year-round vegetative growth cycles are typical. Estates at this elevation generally experience faster leaf maturity and more vigorous flush rates than those in the mid- or high-grown regions, though the Southern Province's coastal proximity can introduce slightly different rainfall and temperature patterns compared to the traditional low-grown zones further inland or to the south-west.
Low-elevation gardens in Sri Lanka tend to produce teas with bold, full-bodied character, and the lack of high-altitude temperature swings usually means less concentration of certain volatile aromatics. The warm, moist environment at sea level generally favours robust vegetative growth, and estates in this band often focus on volume and consistency for blending markets rather than the more delicate, nuanced profiles associated with higher altitudes.
Tea Produced
Katandola produces black tea, consistent with the dominant output of Sri Lanka's low-grown estates. Teas from this elevation typically offer strength, colour and body suited to breakfast blends and other applications where briskness and depth are valued over floral or high-grown complexity. Estates at comparable altitudes in the Southern Province generally yield cup profiles that are malty, robust and straightforward, with good take to milk and a satisfying astringency that appeals to bulk and branded-blend buyers.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Katandola is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive sourcing, blending and packing operations serving retailers and brands worldwide. This relationship suggests the estate's output is oriented toward the volume segment of the market, where consistency, competitive pricing and reliable production schedules are paramount. Finlays' role as a major intermediary in global tea supply chains indicates that Katandola's black teas are likely destined for branded retail blends rather than single-estate or speciality channels, a positioning typical of low-grown Sri Lankan producers.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by Evergreen Group, which also manages six other tea estates listed in this directory. This portfolio presence suggests a company with material scale in Sri Lankan tea production and the operational infrastructure to serve volume buyers across multiple sites. Multi-estate operators typically benefit from economies of scale in procurement, processing and logistics, as well as the ability to aggregate output to meet large contract specifications.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Evergreen Group, Katandola lies at 6.3020, 80.1880 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:
- Kellapatha — 3.0 km away
- Elpitiya Tea Shakthi, Rasilta — 3.5 km away
- Andaradeniya Estate, Ruhunu, Porawagama — 5.7 km away
- Rasota — 6.0 km away
- Athukorala, Athukorala Group — 6.7 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Evergreen Group, Katandola
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Evergreen Group, Katandola (34 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Evergreen Group, Katandola recorded 3,319 mm in 2025, 55% more than the 2,141 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karagoda | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 34 m | 3,022 mm | 29.9 °C |
| 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 |
Evergreen Group, Katandola Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Evergreen Group, Katandola is wetter than 71% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 59% of the others by elevation; warmer than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Evergreen Group, Katandola 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 | Evergreen Group, Katandola | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 34 m | 49 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,319 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.0 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.7 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Evergreen Group, Katandola (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Evergreen Group, Katandola’s coordinates recorded 3,319 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (492 mm) and the driest was February (64 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.0 °C and overnight lows 22.7 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,319 mm |
| Wettest month | November (492 mm) |
| Driest month | February (64 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Evergreen Group, Katandola located?
Evergreen Group, Katandola is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.3020, 80.1880, at an elevation of about 34 metres.
Who operates Evergreen Group, Katandola?
Evergreen Group, Katandola is operated by Evergreen Group, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Evergreen Group, Katandola produce?
Evergreen Group, Katandola is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Evergreen Group, Katandola supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Evergreen Group, Katandola as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Evergreen Group, Katandola receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,319 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (492 mm).
How does Evergreen Group, Katandola compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Evergreen Group, Katandola recorded 3,319 mm in 2025, 55% more rain than the 2,141 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].