Ruhunuputha

Ruhunuputha is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of just 23 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, the international tea and horticulture group. Situated at a latitude of approximately 6.1°N, Ruhunuputha occupies a lowland position typical of the southern coastal belt, distinct from the island's better-known high-elevation districts.

Terroir & Climate

At 23 metres altitude, Ruhunuputha is among Sri Lanka's low-grown tea estates, a category that generally extends from sea level to around 600 metres. Estates at this elevation typically experience warmer temperatures year-round and higher humidity than their high-grown counterparts, factors that tend to accelerate growth rates and favour larger, faster-maturing leaf. The Southern Province's proximity to the equator and coastal influence generally results in less pronounced seasonal variation than in the central highlands, though local monsoon patterns still shape the growing calendar.

Low-grown Sri Lankan estates often contend with higher ambient temperatures and more consistent rainfall, conditions that typically promote vigorous vegetative growth. The resulting leaf tends to be broader and darker than high-elevation material, with a chemical profile that generally favours briskness and strength over the delicate aromatics associated with cooler, slower-grown teas. Soils in the southern lowlands are often lateritic, and drainage management becomes an important consideration given the region's rainfall and low relief.

Tea Produced

Ruhunuputha produces black tea, the dominant type manufactured at low-elevation Sri Lankan estates. Teas from this altitude band typically yield a full-bodied, robust cup with strong colour and brisk astringency, characteristics that have historically made low-grown Ceylon blacks popular for blending in mass-market packets and for iced-tea applications. The cup profile at this elevation generally emphasises strength and malty depth rather than the floral or citrus notes more commonly associated with high-grown estates. Such teas often perform well in hard water and are valued for their consistency and bold character in everyday blends.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Ruhunuputha is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major integrated player in the global tea supply chain with estates, blending operations, and customer relationships spanning multiple continents. Finlays sources from numerous origins and operates both as a grower and as a merchant, supplying tea to branded manufacturers, retail own-label programmes, and foodservice customers. This relationship suggests that Ruhunuputha's output is likely destined for blending applications where strength, colour, and price competitiveness are key purchasing criteria, rather than for single-origin retail or speciality channels.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Ruhunuputha lies at 6.1213, 80.4217 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 23 m elevation is the 103rd highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Uduella — 3.2 km away
• Dediyagala — 3.5 km away
• S.L.S — 4.7 km away
• Moraketiya — 5.0 km away
• Karagoda — 5.2 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Ruhunuputha

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Ruhunuputha (23 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Ruhunuputha recorded 2,891 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 2,994 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
Lalchand tea Factory	Habiganj, Bangladesh	23 m	1,852 mm	30.2 °C
Sonarupa Tea Estate	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	23 m	2,948 mm	30.0 °C
Kayu Aro	Jambi, Indonesia	23 m	4,698 mm	30.4 °C
Shogyoken Seicha Co Ltd	54 Kusauchi Miyanogo Kyotanabeshi, Japan	23 m	1,448 mm	21.4 °C
Avissawella Tea Factory	Free Trade Zone Rd, Sri Lanka	23 m	4,025 mm	30.2 °C

Ruhunuputha Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Ruhunuputha is drier than 57% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 77% of the others by elevation; warmer than 92% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Ruhunuputha 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	Ruhunuputha	Region median	Region range
Elevation	23 m	49 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,891 mm	3,022 mm	2,210 to 3,589 mm
Mean daily high	30.4 °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 Ruhunuputha (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Ruhunuputha’s coordinates recorded 2,891 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (469 mm) and the driest was February (80 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.4 °C and overnight lows 22.4 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,891 mm
Wettest month	November (469 mm)
Driest month	February (80 mm)
Mean daily high	30.4 °C
Mean overnight low	22.4 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ruhunuputha located?

Ruhunuputha is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1213, 80.4217, at an elevation of about 23 metres.

What type of tea does Ruhunuputha produce?

Ruhunuputha is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Ruhunuputha supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Ruhunuputha as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Ruhunuputha receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,891 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (469 mm).

How does Ruhunuputha compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 2,994 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 2,891 mm at Ruhunuputha.

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].