Tippola

Tippola is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, at an altitude of just 9 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is known to supply Finlays, a major tea packer and distributor with global reach. The operator of Tippola is not currently recorded in publicly available trade data.

Terroir & Climate

At 9 metres above sea level, Tippola occupies one of the lowest elevations at which tea is commercially cultivated in Sri Lanka. Estates at or near sea level in the Southern Province typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with minimal temperature variation between seasons. This tropical maritime climate generally promotes rapid, vigorous growth, which tends to favour high yields over the more concentrated flavour compounds that develop at cooler, higher elevations.

The Southern Province's proximity to the Indian Ocean means that rainfall patterns are influenced by both the south-west and north-east monsoons, though low-elevation estates in this region often experience less pronounced seasonal variation than their high-grown counterparts. The warm growing environment typically results in a shorter withering period and faster fermentation during black tea processing, which can shape the character of the finished leaf.

Tea Produced

Tippola produces black tea. Estates at this low elevation in the Southern Province generally yield teas with a robust, full-bodied character and a straightforward, malty profile. The warm, humid growing conditions tend to produce larger leaf with less aromatic complexity than high-grown Ceylon teas, but the liquor is typically strong and brisk, qualities that make low-grown Sri Lankan blacks well suited to blending and to markets where strength and colour are priorities. The cup often shows good depth and a clean, astringent finish.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Tippola is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses, with blending, packing and distribution operations across multiple continents. Finlays sources extensively from Sri Lanka for its own branded products and for private-label contracts with retail and foodservice clients. The relationship suggests that Tippola's output meets the quality and volume requirements of a major multinational buyer, and that its black teas are likely incorporated into blended products destined for international markets, particularly where consistent, robust low-grown Ceylon character is valued.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Tippola lies at 6.1001, 80.4760 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 9 m elevation is the joint 129th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Nandana — 1.2 km away
• Galaboda — 1.4 km away
• Woodland — 1.9 km away
• S.L.S — 2.4 km away
• New Kirimetideniya — 3.5 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Tippola

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Tippola (9 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Tippola recorded 2,837 mm in 2025, 71% more than the 1,656 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
Baikuntopur tea Factory	Habiganj, Bangladesh	9 m	1,654 mm	30.4 °C
Aminabadh tea Factory	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	9 m	2,718 mm	30.2 °C
Shaoxing Jianming Tea Industry Co., Ltd.	Shangyu City, China	9 m	1,306 mm	24.2 °C
Halssen \u0026 Lyon Gmbh	Hamburg, Germany	9 m	742 mm	14.3 °C
GOODRICKE GROUP LIMITED	GURUSADAY ROAD, India	9 m	1,858 mm	31.4 °C

Tippola Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Tippola is drier than 63% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 97% of the others by elevation; warmer than 85% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Tippola 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	Tippola	Region median	Region range
Elevation	9 m	49 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,837 mm	3,022 mm	2,210 to 3,589 mm
Mean daily high	30.2 °C	29.8 °C	25.9 to 30.5 °C
Mean overnight low	22.6 °C	22.6 °C	18.2 to 24.1 °C

Observed Climate at Tippola (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Tippola’s coordinates recorded 2,837 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (485 mm) and the driest was February (72 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.2 °C and overnight lows 22.6 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,837 mm
Wettest month	November (485 mm)
Driest month	February (72 mm)
Mean daily high	30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	22.6 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Tippola located?

Tippola is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.1001, 80.4760, at an elevation of about 9 metres.

What type of tea does Tippola produce?

Tippola is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Tippola supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Tippola as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Tippola receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,837 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (485 mm).

How does Tippola compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Tippola recorded 2,837 mm in 2025, 71% more rain than the 1,656 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].