Uduella

Uduella is a tea estate located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of just 49 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a significant player in the global tea trade. The operator of the estate is not currently documented in public records.

Terroir & Climate

At 49 metres above sea level, Uduella occupies one of the lowest elevations at which tea is commercially cultivated in Sri Lanka. Estates at this altitude typically experience the warm, humid conditions characteristic of Sri Lanka's coastal lowlands, with minimal diurnal temperature variation. Such environments generally promote vigorous vegetative growth year-round, and the consistently high temperatures tend to accelerate the biochemical processes within the tea leaf.

The Southern Province's proximity to the equator and its low-lying topography typically result in a climate with high rainfall and little seasonal variation in temperature. These conditions generally favour rapid flush cycles and high yields, though the leaf produced at such elevations often differs markedly in character from the slower-grown teas of Sri Lanka's celebrated high-altitude districts. Lowland estates in this region tend to harvest throughout the year, with limited dormancy periods.

Tea Produced

Uduella produces black tea, the category that dominates Sri Lankan commercial production. Teas from low-elevation estates in the Southern Province typically yield a robust, full-bodied cup with pronounced strength and colour. The warmer growing conditions at this altitude generally result in bolder, less nuanced flavour profiles compared to high-grown Ceylon teas, often characterised by malty or earthy notes and a brisk astringency. Such teas are commonly valued in blends for their consistency, body, and affordability.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Uduella is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest vertically integrated tea and coffee businesses, with operations spanning cultivation, processing, blending, and distribution. Finlays sources extensively across the major tea-growing origins and supplies multinational brands, food-service operators, and retail private-label programmes. The presence of Finlays as a recorded buyer suggests that Uduella's production is oriented toward the high-volume, quality-consistent segment of the market, where low-grown Sri Lankan blacks are typically deployed in branded blends and cost-sensitive retail channels.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Uduella lies at 6.0927, 80.4202 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 49 m elevation is the 67th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Ruhunuputha — 3.2 km away
• Karagoda — 4.8 km away
• Etabegahawila — 4.9 km away
• Moraketiya — 4.9 km away
• Naindawa — 5.3 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Uduella

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Uduella (49 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Uduella recorded 3,022 mm in 2025, 12% more than the 2,704 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
Yame Tea Kumaen	Tokyo, Japan	50 m	1,293 mm	21.1 °C
Galahitiya	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	48 m	4,348 mm	30.0 °C
Ihala Panapitiya	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	48 m	4,005 mm	29.9 °C
Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd. - final packing and refining processing	Changsha, China	47 m	1,348 mm	24.8 °C
Owaggachara Tea Estate Factory	Rangamati, Bangladesh	46 m	2,525 mm	30.0 °C

Uduella Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Uduella is wetter than 50% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 50% of the others by elevation; warmer than 62% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Uduella 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	Uduella	Region median	Region range
Elevation	49 m	46 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,022 mm	3,022 mm	2,210 to 3,589 mm
Mean daily high	29.9 °C	29.8 °C	25.9 to 30.5 °C
Mean overnight low	22.7 °C	22.6 °C	18.2 to 24.1 °C

Observed Climate at Uduella (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Uduella’s coordinates recorded 3,022 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (513 mm) and the driest was February (81 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.9 °C and overnight lows 22.7 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,022 mm
Wettest month	November (513 mm)
Driest month	February (81 mm)
Mean daily high	29.9 °C
Mean overnight low	22.7 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Uduella located?

Uduella is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.0927, 80.4202, at an elevation of about 49 metres.

What type of tea does Uduella produce?

Uduella is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Uduella supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Uduella as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Uduella receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,022 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (513 mm).

How does Uduella compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Uduella recorded 3,022 mm in 2025, 12% more rain than the 2,704 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].