In short: Janahitha is a low-grown black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, situated at 41 metres above sea level and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Janahitha is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at an elevation of 41 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the established names in the global tea supply chain. The operating company is not currently identified in trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 41 metres above sea level, Janahitha occupies the low-grown category of Sri Lankan tea production, a zone that typically experiences warm, humid conditions year-round due to proximity to the coast and the island's equatorial latitude. Estates at this elevation generally see faster leaf growth and more vigorous flush cycles than their high-grown counterparts, with the warmth accelerating photosynthesis and biomass accumulation.
The Southern Province's low-elevation belt tends to receive reliable rainfall from both monsoon systems that influence Sri Lanka, though the precise interplay of aspect and local topography shapes each estate's microclimate. These conditions generally favour high yields and robust leaf, though the rapid growth cycle can result in less concentration of certain secondary metabolites compared to teas grown at higher altitude under greater stress.
Tea Produced
Janahitha produces black tea, the dominant output of Sri Lanka's low-grown zones. Teas from estates at this elevation in the Southern Province typically yield a full-bodied, malty cup with good strength and colour, characteristics prized in blending and in markets where robust, straightforward character is valued. The faster-growing leaf common to low altitudes often translates to less aromatic complexity than high-grown Ceylon, but delivers the body and depth that anchors many commercial blends.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Janahitha is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with a significant footprint in sourcing, blending and distribution. This relationship suggests that Janahitha's output meets the quality and volume specifications required by a major international buyer, and positions the estate within the commercial mainstream of Sri Lankan low-grown black tea. Finlays' sourcing network spans multiple origins, and its presence here indicates that Janahitha's production is deemed suitable for blending or onward sale into Finlays' global customer base.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Janahitha lies at 6.1115, 80.3173 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 41 m elevation is the joint 72nd highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Iddamaldeniya — under 1 km away
- Devagiri — 1.1 km away
- Mahesland — 1.8 km away
- Samrin — 2.1 km away
- New Kottawa Valley — 2.4 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Janahitha
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Janahitha (41 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Janahitha recorded 3,195 mm in 2025, 10% more than the 2,898 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fujian Province Anxi County Xingxi Tea Co. | Anxi County, China | 41 m | 1,584 mm | 27.6 °C |
| Rehana Tea Factory | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 40 m | 2,667 mm | 30.0 °C |
| Hidellana Tea Factory | Ratnapura, Sri Lanka | 39 m | 4,458 mm | 30.1 °C |
| Balangoda Plantations, Palm Garden | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 43 m | 4,458 mm | 30.1 °C |
| Changsha Tea Factory | Hunan Province, China | 38 m | 1,323 mm | 24.6 °C |
Janahitha Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Janahitha is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 54% of the others by elevation; cooler than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Janahitha 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 | Janahitha | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 41 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 Janahitha (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Janahitha’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 Janahitha located?
Janahitha is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1115, 80.3173, at an elevation of about 41 metres.
What type of tea does Janahitha produce?
Janahitha is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Janahitha supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Janahitha as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Janahitha receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,195 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (526 mm).
How does Janahitha compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Janahitha recorded 3,195 mm in 2025, 10% more rain than the 2,898 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].