Iddamaldeniya

Iddamaldeniya is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 26 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the major players in the global tea trade. The operator of the estate is not publicly documented in available records.

Terroir & Climate

At 26 metres elevation, Iddamaldeniya sits firmly within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea belt, where estates generally experience warm, humid conditions year-round. This southern coastal latitude typically sees consistent temperatures and high moisture levels, conditions that tend to favour vigorous leaf growth and a faster plucking cycle than is found in the island's higher elevations.

Low-grown Sri Lankan estates often contend with heavier rainfall and less diurnal temperature variation than their mid- or high-grown counterparts. These conditions generally produce larger, more rapidly maturing leaves with a different chemical profile to mountain-grown teas, typically yielding brisker, more astringent characteristics in the cup. The Southern Province's proximity to the coast can also influence local microclimate, though specific climatic data for this estate is not publicly available.

Tea Produced

Iddamaldeniya produces black tea, and at this low elevation the leaf is likely to yield the bold, brisk cup profile that characterises Sri Lanka's coastal growing regions. Low-grown Ceylon teas typically offer strong, full-bodied infusions with pronounced astringency and malt-forward flavours, often suited to blending or to consumers who prefer a robust morning tea. Estates at this altitude generally produce teas valued more for strength and colour than for the aromatic complexity or brightness associated with higher-elevation gardens, though quality can vary considerably depending on manufacturing precision and leaf handling.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Iddamaldeniya is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with estates, processing facilities and blending operations spanning multiple continents. Finlays sources from a wide network of independent producers as well as managing its own cultivation, and its client base includes many of the world's largest tea brands. The presence of Finlays as a recorded buyer suggests that Iddamaldeniya's output enters international supply chains serving branded retail and foodservice markets, though the specific end-users of this estate's leaf are not disclosed.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Iddamaldeniya lies at 6.1176, 80.3161 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:

• Janahitha — under 1 km away
• Mahesland — 1.4 km away
• Devagiri — 1.7 km away
• Samrin — 2.7 km away
• New Kottawa Valley — 2.9 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Iddamaldeniya

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Iddamaldeniya (26 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Iddamaldeniya 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

Iddamaldeniya Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Iddamaldeniya 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 Iddamaldeniya 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	Iddamaldeniya	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 Iddamaldeniya (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Iddamaldeniya’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 Iddamaldeniya located?

Iddamaldeniya is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1176, 80.3161, at an elevation of about 26 metres.

What type of tea does Iddamaldeniya produce?

Iddamaldeniya is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Iddamaldeniya supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Iddamaldeniya as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Iddamaldeniya receive?

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

How does Iddamaldeniya compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Iddamaldeniya 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].