Yalta

Yalta is a tea estate situated in Sri Lanka's Southern Province at an elevation of 117 metres. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major buyer in the global tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 117 metres above sea level, Yalta lies firmly within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, where estates typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round. This elevation and the Southern Province's proximity to the equator generally result in a faster growing cycle than is found in the island's mid- and high-grown districts, with leaf flush occurring more continuously throughout the year.

Low-grown Ceylon teas are typically characterised by robust growth and vigorous oxidation during manufacture. The warmer temperatures at this altitude tend to produce leaf that yields strength and colour in the cup, qualities that are often valued in blending. Estates in this elevation band generally experience less diurnal temperature variation than their counterparts in the central highlands, a factor that tends to influence both yield and the biochemical profile of the harvested leaf.

Tea Produced

Yalta produces black tea, the category that continues to dominate Sri Lankan output and export. Low-grown black teas from the Southern Province typically offer a full-bodied, robust cup with good colour and strength, characteristics that often make them well-suited to blending for retail markets. Estates at this elevation generally produce teas with a brisk, straightforward character rather than the delicate complexity associated with high-grown Ceylon; the profile tends toward malty, earthy notes and a satisfying astringency. The consistent warmth and rapid growth cycles typical of this altitude often translate to reliable output of serviceable, strong liquor.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Yalta is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea company with extensive operations across sourcing, blending, packing, and distribution. Finlays supplies own-label and branded tea to retailers and foodservice operators in numerous markets, and the company's procurement footprint spans all major tea origins. The presence of Finlays as a buyer suggests that Yalta's output enters a professional supply chain serving mainstream retail and institutional segments, where consistency, volume capability, and competitive pricing are typically key purchase criteria for low-grown black tea.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Yalta lies at 6.2748, 80.5387 in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its 117 m elevation is the 40th highest of 134 estates we map in Southern Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Andaradeniya Estate, Devonia — under 1 km away
• Co, Op Lanka — under 1 km away
• Thammenna — 1.2 km away
• Walawwatta — 1.6 km away · Western Province
• Co, Op Cola — 2.0 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Yalta

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Yalta (117 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Yalta recorded 2,624 mm in 2025, 5% less than the 2,770 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
Hoolungooree Tea Estate	Assam, India	118 m	2,483 mm	28.5 °C
Hunwal Tea Estate	Assam, India	116 m	2,483 mm	28.5 °C
KDU, Deerwood	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	119 m	4,668 mm	29.5 °C
KDU, Matuwagalla	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	120 m	3,902 mm	29.5 °C
Rooibos Limited	Western Cape, South Africa	112 m	313 mm	27.4 °C

Yalta Compared with Southern Province

In Southern Province, Yalta is drier than 80% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 71% of the others by elevation; warmer than 68% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Yalta 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	Yalta	Region median	Region range
Elevation	117 m	46 m	6 to 806 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,624 mm	3,022 mm	2,210 to 3,589 mm
Mean daily high	30.0 °C	29.8 °C	25.9 to 30.5 °C
Mean overnight low	22.5 °C	22.6 °C	18.2 to 24.1 °C

Observed Climate at Yalta (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Yalta’s coordinates recorded 2,624 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (444 mm) and the driest was February (49 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.0 °C and overnight lows 22.5 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,624 mm
Wettest month	November (444 mm)
Driest month	February (49 mm)
Mean daily high	30.0 °C
Mean overnight low	22.5 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Yalta located?

Yalta is in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.2748, 80.5387, at an elevation of about 117 metres.

What type of tea does Yalta produce?

Yalta is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Yalta supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Yalta as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Yalta receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,624 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (444 mm).

How does Yalta compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Yalta recorded 2,624 mm in 2025, 5% less rain than the 2,770 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].