In short: Morawakkorale is a low-grown tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, situated at 172 metres elevation and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Morawakkorale is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 172 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the major buyers in the global tea trade. The operator of the estate is not currently identified in trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 172 metres, Morawakkorale falls within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea classification, which typically encompasses estates below 600 metres elevation. Low-grown estates in Sri Lanka generally experience warmer temperatures and higher humidity than their mid- or high-grown counterparts, conditions that tend to accelerate growth cycles and increase leaf yield. The Southern Province's proximity to the equator, at approximately 6.3°N latitude, usually means consistent day-length year-round and relatively stable temperatures, both of which can support continuous plucking schedules.
Estates at this elevation in southern Sri Lanka often contend with monsoonal rainfall patterns, which can influence flush timing and leaf chemistry. The warmer growing environment typical of low-grown zones tends to produce larger, faster-maturing leaves with different polyphenol profiles compared to slower-growing high-elevation tea. These conditions generally favour robust, full-bodied black tea production, though specific outcomes depend on cultivar, soil composition, and processing decisions at factory level.
Tea Produced
Morawakkorale produces black tea. Low-grown Sri Lankan black teas typically yield a bold, full-bodied cup with strong colour and brisk astringency. Estates at this elevation in the Southern Province often produce teas suited to blending, valued for their strength, depth of colour, and consistent flavour delivery. The cup profile common to this altitude band tends toward malty, robust characteristics rather than the delicate, bright notes associated with higher-elevation Ceylon teas, though individual garden character and manufacturing technique will ultimately determine the final cup.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Morawakkorale is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with operations spanning production, blending, and distribution across multiple origins. Finlays sources from estates throughout the major tea-growing regions and supplies both retail brands and foodservice clients globally. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that Morawakkorale's output enters established international supply chains, likely destined for blending or branded products in key consumer markets. Finlays' procurement footprint typically emphasises volume, consistency, and traceability, indicating that the estate meets the logistical and quality benchmarks expected by large-scale buyers in the conventional tea trade.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Morawakkorale lies at 6.2989, 80.5422 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 172 m elevation is the 27th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Ceyenta — under 1 km away
- Co, Op Cola — 1.0 km away
- Andaradeniya Estate, Devonia — 2.3 km away
- Yalta — 2.7 km away
- Thammenna — 2.8 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Morawakkorale
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Morawakkorale (172 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Morawakkorale recorded 2,796 mm in 2025, 20% more than the 2,325 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margherita Tea Estate | Assam, India | 172 m | 2,919 mm | 28.2 °C |
| Hre\u00f1uk Sa | Misiones, Argentina | 173 m | 1,860 mm | 26.5 °C |
| Labookellie Estate | Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka | 170 m | 2,570 mm | 31.3 °C |
| Huangshan Biyun Tea Factory | Anhui, China | 175 m | 1,355 mm | 24.0 °C |
| Dirok Tea Estate | Assam, India | 168 m | 2,919 mm | 28.6 °C |
Morawakkorale Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Morawakkorale is drier than 65% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 80% of the others by elevation; cooler than 85% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Morawakkorale 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 | Morawakkorale | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 172 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,796 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.2 °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 Morawakkorale (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Morawakkorale’s coordinates recorded 2,796 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (485 mm) and the driest was February (56 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.2 °C and overnight lows 22.5 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,796 mm |
| Wettest month | November (485 mm) |
| Driest month | February (56 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Morawakkorale located?
Morawakkorale is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2989, 80.5422, at an elevation of about 172 metres.
What type of tea does Morawakkorale produce?
Morawakkorale is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Morawakkorale supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Morawakkorale as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Morawakkorale receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,796 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (485 mm).
How does Morawakkorale compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Morawakkorale recorded 2,796 mm in 2025, 20% more rain than the 2,325 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].