In short: Rasa is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, operating at 333 metres and known to supply Finlays.
Rasa is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, at an elevation of 333 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the larger buyers in the global tea trade. The operator of the estate is not publicly documented in available records.
Terroir & Climate
At 333 metres, Rasa sits within the low-elevation tea-growing zone typical of Sri Lanka's Southern Province. Estates at this altitude generally experience warmer temperatures and more consistent growing conditions year-round compared to higher-elevation counterparts, often resulting in faster vegetative growth and year-round plucking cycles. The Southern Province's proximity to the coast tends to bring reliable rainfall and moderate humidity, though estates at this elevation typically receive less pronounced diurnal temperature variation than mid- or high-grown gardens.
Low-elevation Ceylon teas are generally characterised by quicker processing times and a growing environment that favours robust leaf development. The combination of warmth, moisture, and the estate's latitude near the equator typically supports continuous cropping, though flavour intensity and complexity tend to be less pronounced than in teas from higher altitudes. Terroir at this elevation usually translates into teas valued for strength and body rather than the delicate aromatics associated with high-grown leaf.
Tea Produced
Rasa produces black tea, a category that at low elevations in Sri Lanka typically yields a bold, brisk cup with good colour and strength. Teas from estates around 300 metres in the Southern Province are often characterised by malty, robust profiles with a straightforward, assertive character suited to blending. While high-grown Ceylon teas are prized for brightness and floral notes, low-grown productions such as those from Rasa tend to offer fuller body and depth, qualities often sought by buyers for breakfast blends and applications where strength and consistency are paramount.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Rasa is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea company with global sourcing, blending, and distribution operations. Finlays' presence as a buyer suggests that Rasa's output meets the consistency and volume standards required for commercial blending and international supply chains. The relationship indicates that the estate occupies a role within the mid-stream supply chain, providing raw material to a buyer with extensive downstream reach into retail and foodservice markets worldwide.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Rasa lies at 6.3199, 80.6279 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 333 m elevation is the 15th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Arbour Valley — 1.0 km away
- Urubokka — 1.2 km away
- Berubeula — 1.5 km away
- Cee Tee Hills — 1.5 km away
- Lucky Dais — 2.1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Rasa
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Rasa (333 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Rasa recorded 2,210 mm in 2025, 14% less than the 2,578 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kegalle Plantations, Yataderiya | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 333 m | 3,540 mm | 29.2 °C |
| Wewelkandura | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 332 m | 3,368 mm | 28.5 °C |
| Hinz | AV.SARMIENTO 986 PISO 1 LOC. 9 ()OBERA MISIONE, Argentina | 339 m | 1,816 mm | 26.0 °C |
| KT | Misiones, Argentina | 325 m | 1,896 mm | 26.3 °C |
| Rohini Tea Estate | Subash Ghisingh Marg, India | 319 m | 2,269 mm | 27.0 °C |
Rasa Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Rasa is the driest of the 134 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 89% of the others by elevation; cooler than 90% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Rasa 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 | Rasa | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 333 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,210 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.8 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.0 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Rasa (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Rasa’s coordinates recorded 2,210 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (502 mm) and the driest was August (67 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.8 °C and overnight lows 22.0 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,210 mm |
| Wettest month | November (502 mm) |
| Driest month | August (67 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rasa located?
Rasa is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.3199, 80.6279, at an elevation of about 333 metres.
What type of tea does Rasa produce?
Rasa is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Rasa supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Rasa as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Rasa receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,210 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (502 mm).
How does Rasa compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Rasa recorded 2,210 mm in 2025, 14% less rain than the 2,578 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].