Semidale

Semidale is a tea estate located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, positioned at just 87 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the major players in the global tea trade. The operating company is not publicly documented.

Terroir & Climate

At 87 metres above sea level, Semidale sits firmly within Sri Lanka's low-elevation growing zone, where the climate is typically warm and humid year-round. Estates at this altitude in the Southern Province generally experience consistent temperatures with little seasonal variation, conditions that tend to encourage rapid and vigorous leaf growth. The proximity to sea level often correlates with higher ambient moisture and a growing cycle less punctuated by the diurnal temperature swings found in the hill country.

Low-grown Sri Lankan teas are generally characterised by a faster flush cycle, yielding leaf that tends to be larger and more robust in structure than that from higher elevations. The warmer conditions at this altitude typically favour full oxidation processes, supporting the production of black teas with good body and colour. Estates in this elevation band often contend with higher rainfall and humidity, factors that can influence both yield consistency and the need for careful post-harvest handling.

Tea Produced

Semidale produces black tea, the dominant type among Sri Lanka's low-grown estates. Teas from this elevation range typically yield a full-bodied cup with strong colour and a robust, straightforward character. Low-grown Ceylon blacks are generally valued for their strength and consistency rather than the aromatic complexity associated with high-elevation lots; they tend to offer malty, earthy notes and a brisk astringency that performs well in blends and stands up to milk. Estates at this altitude often produce leaf suited to the commodity and blending segments, where volume, colour, and reliable strength are prioritised.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Semidale is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive sourcing, blending, and packing operations worldwide. Finlays' position as a known buyer suggests that Semidale's output is likely channelled into blended products for retail and food-service markets, where low-grown Ceylon black teas are valued for their body and cost-effectiveness. The relationship points to the estate's integration into global commodity supply chains, though the full scope of its commercial relationships remains undocumented.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Semidale lies at 6.2631, 80.4917 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 87 m elevation is the joint 52nd highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Deshika — under 1 km away · Sabaragamuwa Province
• Maturata Plantations, Anninkande — under 1 km away
• New South, Co, Op — under 1 km away
• Nilwala — under 1 km away
• Dishan Valley — 1.1 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Semidale

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Semidale (87 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Semidale recorded 2,626 mm in 2025, 25% less than the 3,489 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
Triple Zed Tea Estate Private Limited	Panchagarh, Bangladesh	87 m	3,108 mm	29.2 °C
SAGMOOTEA	Assam, India	85 m	2,851 mm	29.1 °C
Tarajulie Tea Estate	Assam, India	85 m	3,305 mm	28.7 °C
Kolonna	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	89 m	4,426 mm	30.3 °C
Hedigalla	Western Province, Sri Lanka	90 m	3,756 mm	29.4 °C

Semidale Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Semidale is drier than 74% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 60% of the others by elevation; warmer than 80% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Semidale 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	Semidale	Region median	Region range
Elevation	87 m	46 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,626 mm	3,022 mm	2,210 to 3,589 mm
Mean daily high	30.1 °C	29.8 °C	25.9 to 30.5 °C
Mean overnight low	22.8 °C	22.6 °C	18.2 to 24.1 °C

Observed Climate at Semidale (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Semidale’s coordinates recorded 2,626 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (444 mm) and the driest was February (49 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.1 °C and overnight lows 22.8 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,626 mm
Wettest month	November (444 mm)
Driest month	February (49 mm)
Mean daily high	30.1 °C
Mean overnight low	22.8 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Semidale located?

Semidale is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2631, 80.4917, at an elevation of about 87 metres.

What type of tea does Semidale produce?

Semidale is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Semidale supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Semidale as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Semidale receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,626 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (444 mm).

How does Semidale compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Semidale recorded 2,626 mm in 2025, 25% less rain than the 3,489 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].