In short: Liyonta is a low-grown black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, situated at 163 metres elevation and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Liyonta is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 163 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and operates in the low-grown category that characterises much of the island's southern coastal belt. The operating company is not recorded in trade directories, though Liyonta is documented as a supplier to Finlays, one of the major buyers and processors in the Sri Lankan tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 163 metres elevation, Liyonta sits well within the low-grown zone of Sri Lankan tea production, where estates typically benefit from warmer temperatures and faster leaf growth than their high-elevation counterparts. The Southern Province's proximity to the equator and its coastal influence generally contribute to a year-round growing season with less pronounced seasonal variation than is seen in the central highlands. Estates at this altitude often experience higher ambient temperatures and humidity, conditions that tend to encourage vigorous vegetative growth and shorter plucking cycles.
Low-grown teas from this latitude and elevation band are typically characterised by robust leaf development and a growing environment that favours volume and strength over the more delicate aromatics associated with high-altitude gardens. The terroir of the Southern Province generally lacks the cool nights and wide diurnal temperature swings found in the central massif, factors which at higher elevations tend to slow growth and concentrate flavour compounds. Instead, the consistent warmth at Liyonta's elevation typically supports steadier, faster cropping throughout much of the year.
Tea Produced
Liyonta produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's low-grown regions. Teas from estates at this elevation in the Southern Province typically yield a bold, full-bodied cup with good strength and colour, characteristics that make them well-suited to blending. The cup profile of low-grown Ceylon black teas generally tends toward briskness and body rather than the floral or bright notes associated with high-grown estates, and they are often prized by buyers for their consistency and reliable performance in breakfast blends and iced tea applications. While specific tasting notes for Liyonta are not recorded, the estate's elevation and regional context suggest a tea in this robust, straightforward style.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Liyonta is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with significant sourcing, processing, and blending operations across Sri Lanka and East Africa. Finlays supplies own-label and branded tea to major retailers and food-service clients globally, and its sourcing relationships typically emphasise volume, consistency, and traceability. The fact that Liyonta is documented in Finlays' supply base suggests the estate produces tea that meets the specifications required for large-scale commercial blending, a market segment in which low-grown Ceylon teas are widely deployed for their strength and cost-efficiency.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Liyonta lies at 6.2833, 80.4500 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 163 m elevation is the 29th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Mahendra — 1.9 km away
- Andaradeniya Estate, Andaradeniya — 2.2 km away
- Derangala — 2.9 km away
- Dishan Valley — 4.5 km away
- Ransavi — 4.6 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Liyonta
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Liyonta (163 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Liyonta recorded 3,051 mm in 2025, 20% more than the 2,545 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirial Tea Estate | Tinsukia, India | 163 m | 2,919 mm | 28.6 °C |
| KDU, New Kandagastenne | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 163 m | 3,432 mm | 29.4 °C |
| Mcleod Russel India Ltd, Bhooteachang Tea Factory | Assam, India | 165 m | 1,742 mm | 29.1 °C |
| Kahawatte Plantations, Nilagama | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 166 m | 2,770 mm | 29.5 °C |
| Hre\u00f1uk Sa | Misiones, Argentina | 173 m | 1,860 mm | 26.5 °C |
Liyonta Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Liyonta is wetter than 53% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 79% of the others by elevation; cooler than 79% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Liyonta 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 | Liyonta | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 163 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,051 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.3 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.1 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Liyonta (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Liyonta’s coordinates recorded 3,051 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (476 mm) and the driest was February (61 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.3 °C and overnight lows 22.1 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,051 mm |
| Wettest month | November (476 mm) |
| Driest month | February (61 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.1 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Liyonta located?
Liyonta is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2833, 80.4500, at an elevation of about 163 metres.
What type of tea does Liyonta produce?
Liyonta is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Liyonta supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Liyonta as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Liyonta receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,051 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (476 mm).
How does Liyonta compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Liyonta recorded 3,051 mm in 2025, 20% more rain than the 2,545 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].