In short: S.L.S is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, situated at 43 metres above sea level and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
S.L.S is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an altitude of just 43 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major name in the international tea trade. Its low-elevation coastal setting places it well outside the high-grown districts for which Sri Lanka is best known.
Terroir & Climate
At 43 metres above sea level, S.L.S occupies one of the lowest elevations at which tea is commercially cultivated in Sri Lanka. Estates at this altitude typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with less diurnal temperature variation than their counterparts in the central highlands. The Southern Province's coastal proximity generally brings regular rainfall and consistent warmth, conditions that tend to promote rapid leaf growth and high yields.
Low-grown teas in Sri Lanka are typically characterised by vigorous vegetative growth and shorter plucking cycles than high-grown estates. The warm, moist environment at near sea level generally favours faster oxidation during processing, and estates in this elevation band often produce teas with bold, straightforward flavour profiles suited to blending and value segments of the market.
Tea Produced
S.L.S produces black tea, and at this elevation the cup character is typically robust and full-bodied rather than delicate or aromatic. Low-grown Sri Lankan black teas generally yield a strong, malty liquor with good colour and body, qualities that make them well suited to breakfast blends and applications where strength and consistency are prioritised over nuance. Estates at this altitude tend to produce teas that perform reliably in bulk blends and offer dependable extraction for both hot and iced preparations.
Supply Chain & Market Position
S.L.S is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated plantation and tea-packing group with a significant presence across East Africa and Asia. Finlays sources tea from estates and smallholders for its blending, packing, and distribution operations, serving major retail and foodservice clients globally. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that S.L.S's output enters established supply chains oriented toward volume markets and private-label programmes, where consistency and competitive pricing are key.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
S.L.S lies at 6.1174, 80.4636 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 43 m elevation is the 70th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Tippola — 2.4 km away
- Galaboda — 3.3 km away
- Nandana — 3.5 km away
- Uruwela — 3.6 km away
- Fairyland — 3.7 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to S.L.S
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match S.L.S (43 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. S.L.S recorded 2,891 mm in 2025, 10% less than the 3,223 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balangoda Plantations, Palm Garden | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 43 m | 4,458 mm | 30.1 °C |
| Non Pareil | Ratnapura, Sri Lanka | 44 m | 4,458 mm | 30.2 °C |
| Atiabagh Tea Estate | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 45 m | 2,948 mm | 30.0 °C |
| Fujian Province Anxi County Xingxi Tea Co. | Anxi County, China | 41 m | 1,584 mm | 27.6 °C |
| Rehana Tea Factory | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 40 m | 2,667 mm | 30.0 °C |
S.L.S Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, S.L.S is drier than 57% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 52% of the others by elevation; warmer than 92% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets S.L.S 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 | S.L.S | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 43 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 S.L.S (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for S.L.S’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 S.L.S located?
S.L.S is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1174, 80.4636, at an elevation of about 43 metres.
What type of tea does S.L.S produce?
S.L.S is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does S.L.S supply?
Public supplier disclosures record S.L.S as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does S.L.S receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,891 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (469 mm).
How does S.L.S compare with estates at a similar elevation?
S.L.S recorded 2,891 mm in 2025, 10% less rain than the 3,223 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].