In short: Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde is a black tea estate in Sri Lanka's Uva Province, operating at 868 metres elevation and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde is a tea estate located in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 868 metres. The estate is operated under the name Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde and is known to supply Finlays, a significant player in the global tea supply chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 868 metres, Telebedde occupies a mid-elevation zone in Uva Province, a region whose south-eastern position on the island exposes it to the dry winds of the Yala monsoon between May and September. Estates at this altitude in Uva typically experience a growing environment characterised by lower humidity and cooler nights during the dry season, conditions that tend to concentrate flavour compounds in the leaf and slow vegetative growth.
The interplay between elevation and the seasonal wind patterns in this part of Sri Lanka generally favours the development of teas with pronounced character. Mid-grown Uva estates often see a marked difference in leaf chemistry between the peak dry months and the wetter inter-monsoon periods, a dynamic that can influence both withering rates and oxidation behaviour during manufacture.
Tea Produced
Telebedde produces black tea. Uva estates at mid-elevation typically yield teas with a brisk, assertive cup profile, often displaying notes that range from malty to slightly astringent, with a characteristic brightness. Teas from this region and altitude band are generally valued for their strength and the clarity of flavour that the seasonal dry winds tend to encourage, though cup character will vary according to manufacturing technique and the timing of the pluck within the annual cycle.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Telebedde is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses, which sources from estates across the major origins and supplies blenders, packers and brands in multiple markets. This relationship places Telebedde within a global supply network, indicating that its output meets the quality and traceability standards required by large-scale buyers serving both retail and foodservice channels.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde lies at 7.0029, 81.0920 in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its 868 m elevation is the 25th highest of 28 estates we map in Uva Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Rathkelle Tea Estate — 4.2 km away · Hingurugama Complex
- Balangoda Plantations, Glen Alpin Group — 4.2 km away
- Balangoda Plantations, Debedde — 4.8 km away
- Balangoda Plantations, Wewesse — 5.9 km away
- Malwatte Valley Plantations, Sarina Group, Sarnia Plaiderie — 8.4 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde (868 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde recorded 2,709 mm in 2025, 13% more than the 2,398 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fengxiangyuan Tea Industry Co., Ltd. | Guizhou Province, China | 868 m | 1,589 mm | 20.4 °C |
| Arrapetta Tea Estate | Meppadi, India | 867 m | 2,919 mm | 26.0 °C |
| Sepoydhoorah | West Bengal, India | 866 m | 2,805 mm | 23.4 °C |
| Glenloch | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 866 m | 2,525 mm | 25.7 °C |
| Ming Ding Cha International Co., Ltd | Shengmaoshu, Taiwan | 875 m | 2,152 mm | 23.2 °C |
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde Compared with Uva Province
In Uva Province, Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde is wetter than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 89% of the others by elevation; warmer than 74% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde against the 27 other estates we map in Uva Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 868 m | 1,169 m | 560 to 1,535 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,709 mm | 2,319 mm | 2,188 to 2,899 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.2 °C | 25.1 °C | 22.4 to 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.7 °C | 16.4 °C | 14.5 to 20.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde’s coordinates recorded 2,709 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (664 mm) and the driest was May (58 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.2 °C and overnight lows 17.7 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,709 mm |
| Wettest month | November (664 mm) |
| Driest month | May (58 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde located?
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.0029, 81.0920, at an elevation of about 868 metres.
Who operates Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde?
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde is operated by Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde produce?
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,709 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (664 mm).
How does Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Balangoda Plantations, Telebedde recorded 2,709 mm in 2025, 13% more rain than the 2,398 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].
