In short: Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala is a black-tea estate in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, operating at 560 metres and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala is a black-tea estate situated in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 560 metres. The estate is operated by Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a significant player in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 560 metres above sea level, Hindagala sits in the lower mid-grown zone typical of certain Uva estates. This elevation generally places the estate below the high-grown threshold yet above the low-country plain, a band where day-night temperature variation tends to be less pronounced than at higher altitudes but more marked than in the coastal lowlands. The Uva climate is characterised by its distinct seasonal dry winds, particularly during the July–September southwest monsoon when the region lies in the rain shadow of the central massif; estates in this zone often experience these desiccating conditions, which can concentrate leaf chemistry and influence cup character.
Uva's latitude, close to seven degrees north, means year-round warmth and the absence of a true winter dormancy. Growth cycles in this environment tend to be continuous, though flush intensity typically varies with the monsoonal calendar. Soils in the mid-elevation Uva belt are generally well-drained, a legacy of the region's geological structure, and this combination of altitude, aspect and seasonal aridity is widely understood to shape the profile of Uva teas.
Tea Produced
Hindagala produces black tea. Estates in the mid-grown Uva zone, particularly those experiencing the region's dry-season winds, often yield teas with a brisk, clean character and a tendency toward astringency. The cup profile typical of Uva is noted for brightness and a certain pungency, qualities that tend to be most pronounced during the estate's quality season. At this elevation, the leaf may display less of the delicate complexity associated with high-grown Ceylon teas, but often retains the crisp, forthright structure for which the region is recognised in blending and in single-origin offerings alike.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Hindagala is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses, with operations spanning production, blending and distribution. Finlays' presence in the Sri Lankan supply chain typically signals that an estate's output meets the volume, consistency and quality benchmarks required by multinational branded-tea clients and foodservice buyers. This relationship suggests that Hindagala's production is oriented toward the export market and integrated into a supply chain serving major consumer brands, rather than the estate operating primarily in the spot auction or small-batch direct-trade channels.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala. No other estates operated by this entity are recorded in our directory at present.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala lies at 7.2367, 80.6035 in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its 560 m elevation is the lowest of 28 estates we map in Uva Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Uplands — 2.3 km away · Central Province
- Dehiwatte — 3.9 km away · Central Province
- Elpitiya Plantations, Deviturai — 5.1 km away · Central Province
- JAMES VALLEY TEA FACTORY — 5.6 km away · DOLUWA
- Embilmeegama — 5.7 km away · Central Province
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala (560 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala recorded 2,203 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 2,245 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.
| Estate | Where | Elevation | Rain 2025 | Mean high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. | Guizhou province, China | 572 m | 1,604 mm | 22.2 °C |
| Boscombe | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 548 m | 2,664 mm | 27.5 °C |
| Hapugastenne Plantations, Springwood | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 582 m | 2,392 mm | 27.6 °C |
| Badamtam Tea Estate | Weste Bengal, India | 608 m | 2,753 mm | 27.2 °C |
| J Llorente Y Cias A | Misiones, Argentina | 482 m | 1,810 mm | 25.7 °C |
Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala Compared with Uva Province
In Uva Province, Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala is drier than 85% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the lowest of the 28 estates by elevation; warmer than 96% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala 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, Hindagala | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 560 m | 1,169 m | 661 to 1,535 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,203 mm | 2,319 mm | 2,188 to 2,899 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.0 °C | 25.1 °C | 22.4 to 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.0 °C | 16.4 °C | 14.5 to 19.5 °C |
Observed Climate at Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala’s coordinates recorded 2,203 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (604 mm) and the driest was February (11 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.0 °C and overnight lows 20.0 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,203 mm |
| Wettest month | November (604 mm) |
| Driest month | February (11 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala located?
Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 7.2367, 80.6035, at an elevation of about 560 metres.
Who operates Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala?
Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala is operated by Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala produce?
Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,203 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (604 mm).
How does Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 2,245 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 2,203 mm at Namunukula Plantations, Hindagala.
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].
