In short: Rasota is a low-grown black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, at 25 metres elevation, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Rasota is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, at an elevation of just 25 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the major tea exporters and packers operating in Sri Lanka and globally.
Terroir & Climate
At 25 metres elevation, Rasota sits squarely within Sri Lanka's low-grown zone, a classification that typically extends from sea level to around 600 metres. Estates at this altitude generally experience warmer temperatures and higher humidity year-round, conditions that tend to accelerate vegetative growth and allow for more frequent plucking cycles compared to mid- or high-grown gardens.
The Southern Province's proximity to the coast typically brings monsoonal influence, with estates in this belt often experiencing heavy seasonal rainfall. Low-grown environments of this kind tend to yield vigorous bush growth and a leaf chemistry that favours strength and colour in the cup, though the cooler, slower metabolism of high-altitude leaf is absent.
Tea Produced
Rasota produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon teas from the Southern Province generally brew to a darker liquor with robust body and a straightforward, malty character. Estates at this elevation typically yield teas prized for strength and colour rather than the aromatic complexity or bright, brisk notes associated with higher altitudes; such lots often find their way into blends where body and consistency are paramount.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Rasota is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated business with tea-packing, blending and export operations across East Africa and South Asia. Finlays sources from a wide network of estates to supply own-label and branded customers in Europe, North America and beyond. A supply relationship of this kind suggests that Rasota's output meets the volume, quality consistency and traceability standards required by large-scale packers serving retail and foodservice channels.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Rasota lies at 6.2707, 80.1443 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 25 m elevation is the joint 94th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Elpitiya Tea Shakthi, Rasilta — 2.6 km away
- Agilma — 5.7 km away
- Evergreen Group, Katandola — 6.0 km away
- Eramulla — 6.7 km away
- Ayesh — 7.3 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Rasota
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Rasota (25 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Rasota recorded 3,358 mm in 2025, 27% more than the 2,644 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandpur Belgaon tea Estate Factory | Chattogram, Bangladesh | 25 m | 2,165 mm | 29.7 °C |
| Premnagar Tea Estate | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 25 m | 2,296 mm | 30.2 °C |
| Hangzhou Kainong Factory | Zhejiang, China | 26 m | 1,280 mm | 24.8 °C |
| BHUBRIGHAT TEA ESTATE | ASSAM, India | 26 m | 3,022 mm | 30.0 °C |
| Agalawatte Plantations, Doloswella | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 26 m | 4,458 mm | 30.2 °C |
Rasota Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Rasota is wetter than 79% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 71% of the others by elevation; cooler than 51% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Rasota 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 | Rasota | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 25 m | 49 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,358 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.8 °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 Rasota (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Rasota’s coordinates recorded 3,358 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (459 mm) and the driest was February (108 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.8 °C and overnight lows 23.0 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,358 mm |
| Wettest month | November (459 mm) |
| Driest month | February (108 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rasota located?
Rasota is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2707, 80.1443, at an elevation of about 25 metres.
What type of tea does Rasota produce?
Rasota is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Rasota supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Rasota as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Rasota receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,358 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (459 mm).
How does Rasota compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Rasota recorded 3,358 mm in 2025, 27% more rain than the 2,644 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].