In short: Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle is a black tea estate in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, operating at 885 metres and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle is a black tea estate located in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at an altitude of 885 metres. The estate operates under the name Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major international tea trader.
Terroir & Climate
At 885 metres above sea level in Uva Province, the estate occupies a mid-elevation position on the eastern flank of Sri Lanka's central highlands. Estates at this altitude typically experience a moderating influence on diurnal temperature variation, neither as pronounced as in high-elevation districts nor as muted as on the lowland plains. Uva's defining characteristic is the seasonal southwest monsoon influence, which tends to bring dry, cooler winds during the mid-year months—conditions that many growers in the region associate with a concentration of flavour in the leaf.
The latitude, at just under seven degrees north, places the estate firmly within the humid tropics, where year-round warmth generally supports continuous vegetative growth. Mid-elevation gardens in this province often contend with distinct wet and dry periods, and the interplay between moisture stress and subsequent flush vigour is thought to contribute to the character for which Uva teas are known. Soils in the region are typically lateritic and well-drained, factors that tend to influence root development and nutrient uptake during the growing cycle.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea. Mid-elevation Uva gardens typically yield teas with a brisk, forthright cup character, often marked by a certain aromatic intensity during the dry monsoon season. Teas from this elevation band in the province generally exhibit good body and colour, with a tendency toward briskness rather than the softer, more delicate profiles associated with higher-altitude Ceylon districts. The interplay of altitude, seasonal wind patterns and processing style tends to shape teas that are well-suited to blending and single-origin offerings alike.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, a longstanding international tea trader with operations spanning multiple origin countries and a diverse customer base in the packaged tea and foodservice sectors. This relationship places Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle within a commercial supply chain that typically channels Sri Lankan black teas into both blended and single-origin retail products, as well as ingredient supply for branded tea companies. Finlays' footprint suggests the estate's output is likely destined for export markets rather than domestic consumption, reflecting the broader orientation of mid-elevation Uva production toward international buyers.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle lies at 6.9349, 81.1527 in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its 885 m elevation is the joint 23rd highest of 28 estates we map in Uva Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Balangoda Plantations, Spring Valley Group — under 1 km away
- Aruna, Passara Tea Shakthi, Aruna Passara — 3.6 km away
- El Teb — 3.8 km away · Lunugala & Hewa Eliya (or Badulla North)
- Balangoda Plantations, Wewesse — 4.3 km away
- Balangoda Plantations, Debedde — 6.2 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle (885 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle recorded 2,624 mm in 2025, 20% more than the 2,193 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahawatte Plantations, Craighead | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 887 m | 3,261 mm | 25.1 °C |
| Pussellawa Plantations, Delta, Delta Ctc | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 889 m | 2,526 mm | 25.1 °C |
| ZTG Jinsha Tea Base | Guizhou Province, China | 879 m | 1,370 mm | 22.1 °C |
| Kasembereka Tea | Thyolo- Makwasa Road, Malawi | 891 m | 1,655 mm | 24.4 °C |
| Ming Ding Cha International Co., Ltd | Shengmaoshu, Taiwan | 875 m | 2,152 mm | 23.2 °C |
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle Compared with Uva Province
In Uva Province, Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle is wetter than 70% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 85% of the others by elevation; warmer than 81% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle 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 | Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 885 m | 1,169 m | 560 to 1,535 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,624 mm | 2,319 mm | 2,188 to 2,899 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.3 °C | 25.1 °C | 22.4 to 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.8 °C | 16.4 °C | 14.5 to 20.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle’s coordinates recorded 2,624 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (600 mm) and the driest was February (57 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.3 °C and overnight lows 17.8 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,624 mm |
| Wettest month | November (600 mm) |
| Driest month | February (57 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle located?
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.9349, 81.1527, at an elevation of about 885 metres.
Who operates Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle?
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle is operated by Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle produce?
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,624 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (600 mm).
How does Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Namunukula Plantations, Gonakelle recorded 2,624 mm in 2025, 20% more rain than the 2,193 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].
