In short: Thotupalawatta is a low-grown black tea estate in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, recorded as supplying Finlays.
Thotupalawatta is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an elevation of just 10 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, the international tea and horticulture group. Its operating company is not publicly documented.
Terroir & Climate
At 10 metres elevation, Thotupalawatta occupies low-grown terrain in Sri Lanka's humid southern coastal zone. Estates at this latitude and altitude typically experience warm, moist conditions year-round, with minimal temperature variation and two monsoon periods—the southwest monsoon from May to September and the northeast monsoon from December to February. Such environments generally favour rapid leaf growth and high flush frequency, though the character of low-grown Ceylon teas tends to differ markedly from the slower-maturing, high-elevation crops of the island's central highlands.
Low-grown estates in the Southern Province often contend with higher rainfall and warmer ambient temperatures than their mid- or high-grown counterparts. These conditions typically yield teas with bolder body and darker liquor, though they may lack the aromatic complexity and briskness associated with higher altitudes. The soil and microclimate at near-sea-level sites can influence drainage, shade, and exposure, all of which shape the pace of the growing cycle and the chemical composition of the plucked leaf.
Tea Produced
Thotupalawatta produces black tea. Low-grown Ceylon blacks from the Southern Province typically offer full-bodied, malty liquors with good colour and strength, making them well suited to blending and to markets that prioritise robust flavour over the more delicate, bright notes of high-grown teas. Estates at this elevation often produce teas that perform reliably in breakfast blends and mass-market packaged formats, where consistency and depth of body are valued. The cup profile tends to be straightforward, with less pronounced floral or citrus character than teas grown at altitude.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Thotupalawatta is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major vertically integrated tea business with operations spanning estates, blending, packing, and distribution. Finlays sources widely across Sri Lanka's growing regions to supply international retail and foodservice customers. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that Thotupalawatta's output enters commercial supply chains geared toward volume and consistency, rather than single-estate or premium retail segments. Low-grown Ceylon blacks of this type are often destined for blends where strength and colour are prioritised, and the relationship with a large-scale buyer points to the estate's role as a reliable supplier of bulk black tea for the conventional market.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Thotupalawatta lies at 6.1688, 80.1794 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 10 m elevation is the joint 126th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- BADDEGAMA IDIGASKATIYA — under 1 km away · Baddegama
- Galle Gangaboda — under 1 km away
- Mussendapota — under 1 km away
- Thisara — 3.2 km away
- Weihena — 3.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Thotupalawatta
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Thotupalawatta (10 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Thotupalawatta recorded 3,346 mm in 2025, 63% more than the 2,054 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neptune Tea Estates Limited | Chattogram, Bangladesh | 10 m | 2,233 mm | 29.8 °C |
| Zhejiang Shanming Tea Co., Ltd. | Zhuji City, China | 10 m | 1,401 mm | 23.0 °C |
| SSK Exports Limited | 1ST FLOOR, India | 10 m | 1,858 mm | 31.4 °C |
| Parisons Estate And Industries Private Limited | West Bengal, India | 10 m | 1,951 mm | 31.3 °C |
| Nuwaraeliya Tea Estate | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 10 m | 2,828 mm | 29.9 °C |
Thotupalawatta Compared with Southern Province
In Southern Province, Thotupalawatta is wetter than 76% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 95% of the others by elevation; cooler than 74% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Thotupalawatta 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 | Thotupalawatta | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 10 m | 49 m | 6 to 806 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,346 mm | 3,022 mm | 2,210 to 3,589 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.5 °C | 29.8 °C | 25.9 to 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.7 °C | 22.6 °C | 18.2 to 24.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Thotupalawatta (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Thotupalawatta’s coordinates recorded 3,346 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (428 mm) and the driest was February (107 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.5 °C and overnight lows 23.7 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,346 mm |
| Wettest month | November (428 mm) |
| Driest month | February (107 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Thotupalawatta located?
Thotupalawatta is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1688, 80.1794, at an elevation of about 10 metres.
What type of tea does Thotupalawatta produce?
Thotupalawatta is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Thotupalawatta supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Thotupalawatta as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Thotupalawatta receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,346 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (428 mm).
How does Thotupalawatta compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Thotupalawatta recorded 3,346 mm in 2025, 63% more rain than the 2,054 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].