In short: Maskeliya Plantations, Craig is a black tea estate in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, operating at 1,383 metres altitude and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig is a tea estate in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, situated at an altitude of 1,383 metres. The estate operates under the name Maskeliya Plantations, Craig and produces black tea. It is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major player in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,383 metres in Uva Province, the estate occupies a mid-elevation zone where Sri Lankan tea estates typically experience a climate shaped by the interplay of both monsoon systems. Uva Province is generally subject to distinct dry periods—most notably from July to September—when easterly winds and reduced rainfall can stress the tea bushes, a phenomenon that tends to concentrate flavour compounds in the leaf. Estates at this latitude and elevation often see moderate daytime temperatures with cooler nights, conditions that generally slow vegetative growth and can contribute to a more deliberate development of complex biochemistry in the plucked leaf.
The altitude of just under 1,400 metres places the estate in a transitional band between the fuller-bodied, lower-grown teas and the more delicate high-elevation styles. This elevation typically allows for a growing cycle that balances yield with quality, and estates in this range often benefit from well-distributed rainfall outside the dry months, supporting consistent flush patterns. The specific topography and exposure within Uva can significantly influence microclimate, but generally speaking, plantations at this altitude in the province are known for producing teas with pronounced character during the quality season.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea, the style for which Uva Province is internationally recognised. Teas from mid-elevation Uva estates typically yield a cup with notable body and a character that can be distinctly season-dependent. During the region's dry season—particularly the July-to-September window—estates at comparable altitudes often produce liquors marked by assertive flavour, brightness, and a certain intensity that buyers associate with the «Uva character». Outside this peak period, the teas tend to be more rounded and less emphatic, though still displaying the structural clarity common to Sri Lankan black teas grown at this elevation. The cup profile from estates in this altitude band is generally well-suited to blending as well as single-origin offerings where a bold, clean infusion is desired.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea businesses with a vertically integrated supply chain spanning cultivation, processing, blending, and brand partnerships. Finlays sources from estates across all major origins and acts as a key intermediary between producers and multinational buyers. That Maskeliya Plantations, Craig supplies Finlays indicates its integration into a global procurement network serving retail brands, foodservice, and out-of-home channels in numerous markets. This relationship suggests the estate's output meets the volume, consistency, and traceability standards required by a multinational trader operating at scale.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig lies at 6.8161, 81.0130 in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its 1383 m elevation is the 6th highest of 28 estates we map in Uva Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Gold Buds Uva Tea — 2.0 km away
- Nayabedde Tea Estate — 3.0 km away · Badulla district
- Agarapatana Plantations, Dambatenne — 3.8 km away
- Agarapatana Plantations, Gonamotawa — 3.9 km away
- Maskeliya Plantations, Ampttiakande — 4.1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Maskeliya Plantations, Craig
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Maskeliya Plantations, Craig (1,383 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Maskeliya Plantations, Craig recorded 2,308 mm in 2025, 11% less than the 2,605 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotiyagala Tea Estate | Nuwaraeliya District, Sri Lanka | 1,383 m | 2,792 mm | 21.8 °C |
| Gorkha Tea Estate Pvt Ltd | Sunperpani Fikkal, Nepal | 1,386 m | 2,277 mm | 20.5 °C |
| Clydesdale Tea Estate | Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka | 1,379 m | 3,114 mm | 22.6 °C |
| Dewata Tea Estate | Kab. Bandung, Indonesia | 1,391 m | 2,942 mm | 22.8 °C |
| KYIMBILA | Mbeya region, Tanzania United Republic Of | 1,391 m | 1,902 mm | 21.6 °C |
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig Compared with Uva Province
In Uva Province, Maskeliya Plantations, Craig is drier than 70% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 81% of the others by elevation; cooler than 81% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Maskeliya Plantations, Craig 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 | Maskeliya Plantations, Craig | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,383 m | 1,131 m | 560 to 1,535 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,308 mm | 2,319 mm | 2,188 to 2,899 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.5 °C | 25.2 °C | 22.4 to 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 14.9 °C | 16.6 °C | 14.5 to 20.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Maskeliya Plantations, Craig (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Maskeliya Plantations, Craig’s coordinates recorded 2,308 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (589 mm) and the driest was June (42 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.5 °C and overnight lows 14.9 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,308 mm |
| Wettest month | November (589 mm) |
| Driest month | June (42 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 14.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maskeliya Plantations, Craig located?
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8161, 81.0130, at an elevation of about 1383 metres.
Who operates Maskeliya Plantations, Craig?
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig is operated by Maskeliya Plantations, Craig, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Maskeliya Plantations, Craig produce?
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Maskeliya Plantations, Craig supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Maskeliya Plantations, Craig as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Maskeliya Plantations, Craig receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,308 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (589 mm).
How does Maskeliya Plantations, Craig compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Maskeliya Plantations, Craig recorded 2,308 mm in 2025, 11% less rain than the 2,605 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].
