In short: Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan is a black tea estate in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at 907 metres elevation, known to supply Finlays.
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan is a black tea estate located in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 907 metres. The estate is operated by Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan and is known to supply Finlays, a significant international tea buyer and processor.
Terroir & Climate
Situated at 907 metres in Uva Province, the estate occupies what is generally considered mid-elevation terrain in Sri Lanka's eastern highlands. Estates at this altitude typically experience a growing environment that balances the intensity of lower-elevation production with the slower maturation found at higher altitudes, though specific microclimatic conditions can vary considerably within the region.
Uva Province is subject to the influence of monsoon winds that tend to create a distinctive dry season, particularly between June and September, when easterly winds can desiccate the leaf and intensify certain flavour compounds. At approximately seven degrees north of the equator, the estate lies in a tropical zone where temperature variation is driven more by elevation and seasonal wind patterns than by latitude, and where estates often manage two principal quality seasons aligned with monsoon cycles.
Tea Produced
The estate produces black tea. Uva teas from mid-elevation gardens such as this one typically yield a cup noted for brisk, assertive character, and estates in the region are often associated with a certain pungency and brightness—qualities that tend to become more pronounced during the dry, windy months. The specific profile of any given lot will depend on plucking standards, manufacturing protocol, and the timing of harvest relative to the monsoon calendar.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is known to supply Finlays, one of the world's largest tea packers and a major buyer of Sri Lankan production. This relationship suggests that output from Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan enters established international supply chains serving both branded and private-label markets, primarily in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Finlays' presence as a buyer typically indicates a degree of consistency in volume and quality assurance, as the company's purchasing standards are aligned with the requirements of large-scale blenders and retail programmes.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan lies at 6.8667, 81.0466 in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its 907 m elevation is the 22nd highest of 28 estates we map in Uva Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Hapugastenne Plantations, New Burgh Green Tea — 1.2 km away
- Uva Halpewatte — 2.9 km away
- Amba Estate — 3.9 km away · Bandarawela
- Demodera Estate — 4.6 km away · Demodera - Spring Valley - Badulla Rd
- New Roseland — 4.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan (907 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan recorded 2,206 mm in 2025, 20% less than the 2,767 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAWANI | Thyolo, Malawi | 906 m | 1,525 mm | 24.1 °C |
| Wentworth Tea Estate | Cherambadi, India | 903 m | 2,378 mm | 26.4 °C |
| Elpitiya Plantations, Nayapane | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 896 m | 3,261 mm | 25.0 °C |
| Yuillefield Tea Estate | Western Province, Sri Lanka | 895 m | 3,346 mm | 24.8 °C |
| Namring Tea Estate | Darjeeling, India | 923 m | 3,324 mm | 23.4 °C |
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan Compared with Uva Province
In Uva Province, Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 78% of the others by elevation; warmer than 67% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan 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, Kinellan | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 907 m | 1,169 m | 560 to 1,535 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,206 mm | 2,319 mm | 2,188 to 2,899 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.0 °C | 25.1 °C | 22.4 to 28.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.3 °C | 16.4 °C | 14.5 to 20.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan’s coordinates recorded 2,206 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (551 mm) and the driest was June (40 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.0 °C and overnight lows 17.3 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,206 mm |
| Wettest month | November (551 mm) |
| Driest month | June (40 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan located?
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan is in Uva Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8667, 81.0466, at an elevation of about 907 metres.
Who operates Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan?
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan is operated by Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan produce?
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,206 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (551 mm).
How does Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan recorded 2,206 mm in 2025, 20% less rain than the 2,767 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].
