In short: Rotumba is a black tea estate in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at 155 metres above sea level, recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Rotumba is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, positioned at an altitude of 155 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, the global tea trader and plantation operator. Rotumba's low-elevation position places it within the lowland growing belt that extends across Sri Lanka's southern and coastal regions, where warm, humid conditions prevail year-round.
Terroir & Climate
At 155 metres, Rotumba lies within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, typically defined as estates below 600 metres. This elevation band generally experiences higher ambient temperatures and greater humidity than the mid- or high-grown districts, conditions that tend to accelerate the vegetative growth cycle. Estates at this altitude often benefit from faster leaf flushing and can maintain year-round cropping, though the character of the tea typically reflects the vigour of growth rather than the slower, more complex development associated with cooler elevations.
The Southern Province's tropical monsoonal climate usually delivers two main wet periods annually, with the southwest monsoon dominating from May to September. Low-grown areas in this latitude band generally receive ample rainfall and warmth, factors that tend to favour robust vegetative growth and high yields. The interplay of temperature, moisture, and the faster metabolism of the tea plant at lower altitudes typically shapes a leaf chemistry that differs markedly from the high-grown estates of Nuwara Eliya or Uva.
Tea Produced
Black teas from low-grown estates in Sri Lanka's Southern Province typically yield a full-bodied, brisk cup with pronounced strength and astringency. The quicker growth cycle at 155 metres tends to produce a liquor that is darker and more robust than the lighter, more aromatic high-grown Ceylon teas. Such teas are often valued in blending for their body, colour, and malty depth, characteristics that tend to perform well in breakfast blends and applications where strength and consistency are prioritised over nuanced aromatics.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Rotumba is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee traders and a significant plantation operator in its own right. Finlays sources from estates across the major origins and supplies multinational brands, retail-label packers, and foodservice clients globally. The presence of Finlays as a recorded buyer suggests that Rotumba's output enters a commercial supply chain oriented toward volume, consistency, and blending, rather than single-estate or origin-specific retail products. Such relationships typically indicate that the estate's production meets the quality standards and logistical requirements of large-scale international tea trading.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Rotumba lies at 6.2307, 80.5793 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 155 m elevation is the 30th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Sunrise — 3.7 km away
- Pasgoda — 3.7 km away
- Ivyhills — 4.0 km away
- Lakvinka — 4.1 km away
- Nilrich — 4.8 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Rotumba
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Rotumba (155 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Rotumba recorded 2,342 mm in 2025, 17% less than the 2,822 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coombergram | PO KUMBHIRCACHAR ASSAM 788 108 Jorhat, India | 155 m | 3,190 mm | 29.1 °C |
| Kahawatte Plantations, Opatha | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 155 m | 3,902 mm | 29.7 °C |
| Kahawatte Plantations, Poronuwa | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 155 m | 2,770 mm | 29.6 °C |
| Pengaree | Assam, India | 153 m | 2,841 mm | 28.7 °C |
| Anhui Huangshan United Keemun Tea Co., Ltd. - Office and Factory | Anhui Huangshan Eoconomic Development Zone, China | 149 m | 1,408 mm | 24.6 °C |
Rotumba Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Rotumba is drier than 93% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 78% of the others by elevation; cooler than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Rotumba 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 | Rotumba | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 155 m | 46 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,342 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 | 22.4 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Rotumba (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Rotumba’s coordinates recorded 2,342 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (439 mm) and the driest was February (47 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.6 °C and overnight lows 22.4 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,342 mm |
| Wettest month | November (439 mm) |
| Driest month | February (47 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 22.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rotumba located?
Rotumba is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2307, 80.5793, at an elevation of about 155 metres.
What type of tea does Rotumba produce?
Rotumba is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Rotumba supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Rotumba as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Rotumba receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,342 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (439 mm).
How does Rotumba compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Rotumba recorded 2,342 mm in 2025, 17% less rain than the 2,822 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].