In short: Small Organic Farmers' Association (SOFA) is a tea estate in Sri Lanka at 232 metres elevation, operated by the association itself and known to supply Equal Exchange.
The Small Organic Farmers' Association (SOFA) is a tea estate in Sri Lanka, located at 232 metres above sea level and positioned at approximately 7.87°N latitude and 80.77°E longitude. The estate is operated by the Small Organic Farmers' Association itself and is known to supply Equal Exchange, a recognised buyer in the fair-trade and specialty tea sector.
Terroir & Climate
At 232 metres elevation, SOFA occupies a low-grown position within Sri Lanka's tea landscape. Estates at this altitude typically experience warmer ambient temperatures and less diurnal temperature variation than their high-grown counterparts, conditions that generally encourage faster vegetative growth and year-round production cycles. Low-elevation sites in Sri Lanka tend to benefit from consistent moisture and warmth, supporting vigorous flush development.
The estate's location at just under 8 degrees north latitude places it in a tropical zone where monsoon patterns and rainfall distribution tend to shape the growing calendar. Low-grown tea lands in Sri Lanka often yield leaf that matures rapidly, and the warmer conditions at this elevation can influence both the biochemical composition of the fresh leaf and the profile of the finished tea.
Tea Produced
SOFA produces black tea. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka typically yield a bolder, more robust cup than high-elevation counterparts, often with fuller body and a stronger, more straightforward character. Teas from estates at this altitude tend to develop darker liquor and a pronounced malty or earthy base, though specific cup profiles depend on factory process and leaf handling. The warmer growing conditions generally favour teas suited to blending and everyday consumption rather than the more delicate, nuanced styles associated with high-elevation gardens.
Supply Chain & Market Position
SOFA is recorded as a supplier to Equal Exchange, a company with an established focus on fair-trade and ethically sourced products. This supply relationship suggests that SOFA's production is oriented toward buyers prioritising transparent sourcing and smallholder or cooperative models. Equal Exchange's involvement indicates that the estate's teas reach markets where provenance and social standards are significant purchasing criteria, positioning SOFA within a segment of the supply chain that values traceability and equitable terms of trade.
- Recorded supplier to Equal Exchange
Operator
The estate is operated by the Small Organic Farmers' Association (SOFA) itself, indicating a cooperative or collective structure rather than external corporate ownership. No other estates operated by SOFA are recorded in the directory, suggesting that this operation represents the association's primary or sole tea-production asset.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) lies at 7.8731, 80.7718 in Sri Lanka. Its 232 m elevation is the joint 221st highest of 421 estates we map in Sri Lanka. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Kirklees Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Udapussellawa
- Agarapatana Plantations, Diyagama West — 47 km away · Central Province
- Mount Eliza — 50 km away · Central Province
- Ancoombra — 53 km away · Central Province
- Hatale — 56 km away · Central Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA)
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) (232 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) recorded 2,205 mm in 2025, 28% more than the 1,723 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kairbetta Estate | Nilgiris, India | 231 m | 745 mm | 34.5 °C |
| Pasgoda | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 231 m | 2,342 mm | 29.6 °C |
| Nilgiri | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 235 m | 2,624 mm | 29.8 °C |
| Yixian Qingye Tea Farm Co. Ltd - final packing and primary processing | Huang Shan, China | 241 m | 1,194 mm | 22.7 °C |
| Huzhou Jiasheng Tea Co., Ltd. | Zhejiang, China | 221 m | 1,708 mm | 22.1 °C |
Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) Compared with Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) is drier than 97% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 53% of the others by elevation; warmer than 99% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) against the 420 other estates we map in Sri Lanka, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 232 m | 298 m | 6 to 1,962 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,205 mm | 3,080 mm | 2,018 to 4,839 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.5 °C | 28.8 °C | 18.9 to 31.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.1 °C | 21.7 °C | 12.4 to 24.3 °C |
Observed Climate at Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA)’s coordinates recorded 2,205 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (570 mm) and the driest was June (23 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.5 °C and overnight lows 23.1 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,205 mm |
| Wettest month | November (570 mm) |
| Driest month | June (23 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.1 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) located?
Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) is in Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.8731, 80.7718, at an elevation of about 232 metres.
Who operates Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA)?
Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) is operated by Small Organic Farmers' Association (SOFA), according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) produce?
Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) as supplying Equal Exchange.
How much rain does Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,205 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (570 mm).
How does Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Small Organic Farmers\u0027 Association (SOFA) recorded 2,205 mm in 2025, 28% more rain than the 1,723 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].
