In short: New Kottawa Valley is a low-grown black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, known to supply Finlays.
New Kottawa Valley is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at an elevation of just 52 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, the multinational tea and horticulture group. Its low-altitude position places it firmly within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea category, a segment that accounts for the majority of the island's total tea output.
Terroir & Climate
At 52 metres above sea level, New Kottawa Valley occupies one of the lowest elevations in Sri Lankan tea cultivation, within the warm, humid coastal belt of the Southern Province. Estates at this altitude typically experience year-round warmth and abundant rainfall, conditions that tend to promote rapid leaf growth and high yields. The lack of significant diurnal temperature variation—a feature of higher elevations—generally results in faster oxidation during processing and a different flavour development compared to mid- or high-grown teas.
Low-grown estates in southern Sri Lanka often benefit from deep alluvial soils and consistent moisture, though the warmer temperatures can mean a shorter withering period and a need for careful handling to avoid over-fermentation. The latitude, at approximately 6°N, places the estate well within the tropical zone, where seasonal variation is driven more by monsoon patterns than by temperature shifts. These climatic factors typically favour volume production and teas suited to blending, though processing techniques can significantly influence the final cup character.
Tea Produced
New Kottawa Valley produces black tea, the dominant type among Sri Lanka's low-grown estates. Teas from this elevation and region generally yield a robust, full-bodied cup with good colour and strength, characteristics that tend to make them well-suited to blending for both packet tea and foodservice applications. Low-grown Ceylon teas often display a straightforward, malty profile with less of the brightness and floral complexity associated with higher altitudes, though much depends on plucking standards and manufacture. The estate's output is typical of the Southern Province low-grown sector, which prioritises consistency and volume for the global blending market.
Supply Chain & Market Position
New Kottawa Valley is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major vertically integrated player in the global tea industry with operations spanning cultivation, processing, blending, and distribution. Finlays sources from a wide network of estates and is known to supply both branded tea companies and private-label retailers across multiple continents. The relationship suggests that New Kottawa Valley's production is absorbed into Finlays' blending and export operations, likely destined for international markets where consistency, strength, and competitive pricing are prioritised. This supply arrangement is characteristic of many low-grown Sri Lankan estates, which form a critical part of the island's high-volume export sector.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
New Kottawa Valley lies at 6.0940, 80.3050 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 52 m elevation is the joint 64th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Samrin — under 1 km away
- Thalgampola — under 1 km away
- Liyota, Lickra — 1.1 km away
- Lucky Kottawa — 1.1 km away
- Devagiri — 2.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to New Kottawa Valley
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match New Kottawa Valley (52 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. New Kottawa Valley recorded 3,195 mm in 2025, 14% more than the 2,795 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Field Tea Industries Ltd. | Rangpur, Bangladesh | 52 m | 2,204 mm | 29.1 °C |
| Fuhong Tea Industry Co., Ltd.-Xinjia farm | Jiangxi Province, China | 52 m | 1,313 mm | 24.6 °C |
| KOKRAJHAR | Assam, India | 52 m | 3,229 mm | 29.3 °C |
| Agalawatte Plantations, Delgoda | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 52 m | 3,413 mm | 30.1 °C |
| Falcon | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 52 m | 3,815 mm | 30.1 °C |
New Kottawa Valley Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, New Kottawa Valley is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 52% of the others by elevation; cooler than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets New Kottawa Valley 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 | New Kottawa Valley | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 52 m | 46 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 New Kottawa Valley (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for New Kottawa Valley’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 New Kottawa Valley located?
New Kottawa Valley is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.0940, 80.3050, at an elevation of about 52 metres.
What type of tea does New Kottawa Valley produce?
New Kottawa Valley is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does New Kottawa Valley supply?
Public supplier disclosures record New Kottawa Valley as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does New Kottawa Valley receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,195 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (526 mm).
How does New Kottawa Valley compare with estates at a similar elevation?
New Kottawa Valley recorded 3,195 mm in 2025, 14% more rain than the 2,795 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].