Mahaliyadda

Mahaliyadda is a tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, situated at just 42 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the major players in the global tea trade. The operator is not publicly documented in available industry records.

Terroir & Climate

At 42 metres elevation, Mahaliyadda occupies the low-grown zone of Sri Lankan tea production, where the tropical coastal climate typically differs markedly from the cooler conditions of the island's central highlands. Estates at this altitude generally experience warmer temperatures year-round and higher humidity, which tend to accelerate vegetative growth and yield a more rapid flush cycle.

The Southern Province's proximity to the equator and to the Indian Ocean typically means consistent warmth and moisture, though seasonal monsoons influence the growing calendar. Low-grown estates in this latitude range often produce leaf with greater vigour and body than high-elevation counterparts, though the cooler, slower maturation of highland tea is absent. The interplay of heat, rainfall, and sea-level air tends to shape both yield and the chemical composition of the manufactured leaf.

Tea Produced

Mahaliyadda produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's low-grown districts. Teas from estates at this elevation typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with pronounced strength and darker liquor. The faster leaf growth associated with low-altitude tropical conditions generally results in teas valued for blending, prized for their body and colour rather than the aromatic complexity often found in high-grown Ceylon teas. The cup character tends toward malty, earthy, or assertively brisk notes, well suited to milk and everyday consumption formats.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Mahaliyadda is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated business with tea interests spanning estates, blending, packing, and ingredients across multiple origins. Finlays sources from a broad range of producers to serve retail, foodservice, and branded customers globally. Supply to Finlays typically indicates that Mahaliyadda's output enters a large, diversified procurement stream, likely destined for blending or bulk markets rather than single-estate retail. The relationship suggests the estate operates within the commodity or semi-commodity tier of the Sri Lankan tea supply chain, where volume and consistency are valued alongside cost efficiency.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Mahaliyadda lies at 6.1979, 80.3278 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 42 m elevation is the 71st highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Evergreen Group, Kanneliya — 2.5 km away
• Sineth — 5.1 km away
• Evergreen Group, Thalangaha — 5.5 km away
• Hill Side, Hillside Group — 7.8 km away
• Mahesland — 8.0 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Mahaliyadda

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Mahaliyadda (42 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Mahaliyadda recorded 3,156 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 3,223 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

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
Balangoda Plantations, Palm Garden	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	43 m	4,458 mm	30.1 °C
Rehana Tea Factory	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	40 m	2,667 mm	30.0 °C
Non Pareil	Ratnapura, Sri Lanka	44 m	4,458 mm	30.2 °C
Atiabagh Tea Estate	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	45 m	2,948 mm	30.0 °C

Mahaliyadda Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Mahaliyadda is wetter than 57% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 53% of the others by elevation; warmer than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Mahaliyadda 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	Mahaliyadda	Region median	Region range
Elevation	42 m	49 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,156 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	22.5 °C	22.6 °C	18.2 to 24.1 °C

Observed Climate at Mahaliyadda (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Mahaliyadda’s coordinates recorded 3,156 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (515 mm) and the driest was February (65 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.0 °C and overnight lows 22.5 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,156 mm
Wettest month	November (515 mm)
Driest month	February (65 mm)
Mean daily high	30.0 °C
Mean overnight low	22.5 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Mahaliyadda located?

Mahaliyadda is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1979, 80.3278, at an elevation of about 42 metres.

What type of tea does Mahaliyadda produce?

Mahaliyadda is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Mahaliyadda supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Mahaliyadda as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Mahaliyadda receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,156 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (515 mm).

How does Mahaliyadda compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 3,223 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 3,156 mm at Mahaliyadda.

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].