In short: Neluwa Medagama is a low-elevation tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, located at 120 metres above sea level and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Neluwa Medagama is a tea estate situated in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 120 metres above sea level. The estate is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a prominent name in the international tea trade. Its low-altitude location places it well outside the celebrated high-grown districts, in a zone where tea production emphasises volume and robust character over the delicate profiles of mountain gardens.
Terroir & Climate
At 120 metres, Neluwa Medagama occupies one of the lowest elevations at which tea is commercially cultivated in Sri Lanka. Estates at this altitude typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with daytime temperatures that promote rapid leaf growth and a growing cycle less constrained by elevation-induced dormancy. The Southern Province's coastal influence generally brings consistent rainfall, though the estate's specific microclimate will vary with local topography and monsoon patterns.
Low-grown Sri Lankan estates in this altitude band tend to produce leaf that matures quickly, with a cellular structure and enzyme activity that favour vigorous fermentation during black tea manufacture. The warmth and moisture typical of such elevations generally support high yields, though the cup character tends toward strength and body rather than the aromatic complexity associated with cooler, high-altitude gardens.
Tea Produced
Neluwa Medagama produces black tea. Estates at this low elevation in Sri Lanka typically yield a cup notable for boldness and colour rather than floral or fruit-forward nuance. The leaf grown at 120 metres tends to generate full-bodied liquor with brisk astringency, well suited to blending applications where strength and consistency are priorities. Such teas often form the backbone of everyday blends destined for retail markets that value depth of flavour and brewing resilience over delicacy.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Neluwa Medagama is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated operator with significant footprint across tea-growing regions and a customer base spanning multinational brands and retail packers. This relationship suggests the estate's output is directed into supply chains serving mainstream blended tea products, where low-grown Sri Lankan leaf is valued for its contribution to body, colour and cost efficiency. The fact that Finlays appears as a buyer indicates the estate's production meets the quality benchmarks and logistical requirements of large-scale commercial tea distribution.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Neluwa Medagama lies at 6.3694, 80.3658 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 120 m elevation is the joint 37th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- New Nivithigala Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Lelwala
- Ruhuna Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Lelwala
- Suviska — 1.0 km away
- Andaradeniya Estate, Duliella — 1.5 km away
- Jayasinghe — 2.1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Neluwa Medagama
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Neluwa Medagama (120 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Neluwa Medagama recorded 3,509 mm in 2025, 19% more than the 2,954 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyhung Tea Estate | Assam, India | 120 m | 3,374 mm | 28.1 °C |
| Desam Tea Estate | Tairai Gaon, India | 120 m | 2,515 mm | 28.5 °C |
| KDU, Matuwagalla | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 120 m | 3,902 mm | 29.5 °C |
| KDU, Deerwood | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 119 m | 4,668 mm | 29.5 °C |
| I \u0026 M Smith | Western Cape, South Africa | 124 m | 313 mm | 27.4 °C |
Neluwa Medagama Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Neluwa Medagama is wetter than 93% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 71% of the others by elevation; cooler than 85% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Neluwa Medagama 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 | Neluwa Medagama | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 120 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,509 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 | 22.3 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Neluwa Medagama (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Neluwa Medagama’s coordinates recorded 3,509 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (492 mm) and the driest was February (111 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.2 °C and overnight lows 22.3 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,509 mm |
| Wettest month | November (492 mm) |
| Driest month | February (111 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Neluwa Medagama located?
Neluwa Medagama is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.3694, 80.3658, at an elevation of about 120 metres.
What type of tea does Neluwa Medagama produce?
Neluwa Medagama is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Neluwa Medagama supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Neluwa Medagama as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Neluwa Medagama receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,509 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (492 mm).
How does Neluwa Medagama compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Neluwa Medagama recorded 3,509 mm in 2025, 19% more rain than the 2,954 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].