In short: Nilwala is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at 90 metres altitude and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Nilwala is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at an altitude of 90 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major participant in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 90 metres altitude, Nilwala occupies the low-grown category of Sri Lankan tea production, where estates typically experience warmer temperatures and higher humidity than their mid- and high-elevation counterparts. The Southern Province's proximity to the equator and coastal influences generally create a climate conducive to rapid leaf growth, with estates at this elevation often achieving faster plucking cycles than those in the cooler uplands.
Low-grown Sri Lankan estates tend to produce leaf with bolder character and quicker oxidation rates, driven by the warmer ambient conditions. The combination of sea-level latitude and modest altitude typically results in a year-round growing season with less pronounced dormancy, though monsoon patterns can still shape flush quality and processing windows across the calendar.
Tea Produced
Nilwala produces black tea, the dominant style across Sri Lanka's low-grown districts. Estates in the Southern Province at similar elevations generally yield teas with full body, robust strength, and a darker liquor than the more delicate high-grown Ceylon grades. The cup profile typical of this altitude band tends toward malty, sometimes slightly astringent notes, with less of the bright, floral complexity associated with teas grown above 1,200 metres. Low-grown black teas from this region are often favoured for blending, where their strength and colour contribute backbone to commercial breakfast-style blends.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Nilwala is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses with extensive blending, packing, and distribution operations. Finlays sources from numerous origins to serve retail, foodservice, and brand-owner customers globally, and its presence as a buyer suggests that Nilwala's output enters commercial supply chains where volume, consistency, and competitive pricing are prioritised. The relationship positions the estate within the mainstream black tea market rather than the single-origin or estate-bottled segment.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Nilwala lies at 6.2653, 80.4910 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 90 m elevation is the 51st highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Deshika — under 1 km away · Sabaragamuwa Province
- Maturata Plantations, Anninkande — under 1 km away
- New South, Co, Op — under 1 km away
- Semidale — under 1 km away
- Dishan Valley — under 1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Nilwala
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Nilwala (90 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Nilwala recorded 2,875 mm in 2025, 12% less than the 3,282 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behora Tea Estate | Golaghat, India | 90 m | 2,552 mm | 28.3 °C |
| Hedigalla | Western Province, Sri Lanka | 90 m | 3,756 mm | 29.4 °C |
| Nya Gogra Tea Estate | No.1 Naya Ghagra, India | 89 m | 2,618 mm | 28.4 °C |
| Kolonna | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 89 m | 4,426 mm | 30.3 °C |
| Emperial Tea Estate Ltd. | Panchagarh, Bangladesh | 93 m | 3,056 mm | 28.8 °C |
Nilwala Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Nilwala is drier than 59% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 62% of the others by elevation; warmer than 85% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Nilwala 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 | Nilwala | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 90 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,875 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.2 °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 Nilwala (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Nilwala’s coordinates recorded 2,875 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (447 mm) and the driest was February (64 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.2 °C and overnight lows 22.5 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,875 mm |
| Wettest month | November (447 mm) |
| Driest month | February (64 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nilwala located?
Nilwala is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2653, 80.4910, at an elevation of about 90 metres.
What type of tea does Nilwala produce?
Nilwala is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Nilwala supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Nilwala as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Nilwala receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,875 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (447 mm).
How does Nilwala compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Nilwala recorded 2,875 mm in 2025, 12% less rain than the 3,282 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].