Baduraeliya

Baduraeliya is a tea estate located in Western Province, Sri Lanka, at an altitude of just 25 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major international tea trading and processing firm.

Terroir & Climate

At 25 metres above sea level, Baduraeliya occupies one of the lowest altitudes at which tea is commercially cultivated in Sri Lanka. Estates at this elevation, particularly in the warm, humid Western Province, typically experience year-round high temperatures and consistent moisture, conditions that tend to accelerate leaf growth and produce higher yields per hectare. The proximity to sea level generally results in a faster flush cycle, with less pronounced seasonal variation than is found in Sri Lanka's celebrated high-elevation districts.

Low-grown tea in this latitude range is usually characterised by vigorous vegetative growth. The warmth and humidity typical of near-coastal Western Province locations tend to favour rapid photosynthesis and a shorter interval between pluckings, though the leaf chemistry—particularly the accumulation of certain polyphenols and amino acids—often differs from that developed at higher, cooler elevations.

Tea Produced

Baduraeliya produces black tea. Low-grown black teas from Sri Lanka's warmer, low-altitude zones typically yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with strong colour and a straightforward, robust character. Estates at this elevation often produce leaf destined for blending, valued for strength and consistency rather than the nuanced aromatics associated with high-grown Ceylon teas. The liquor tends to be darker and the flavour profile more assertive, qualities that generally suit bulk blending and markets where body and colour are prioritised.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Baduraeliya is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with plantation, processing, blending, and trading operations across multiple origins. Finlays sources from numerous estates worldwide to supply both branded and private-label customers in Europe, North America, and beyond. The relationship suggests that Baduraeliya's output enters a global supply chain serving mainstream tea markets, where consistency, volume, and competitive pricing are typically the determining factors.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Baduraeliya lies at 6.5176, 80.2340 in Western Province, Sri Lanka. Its 25 m elevation is the 10th highest of 22 estates we map in Western Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Palindanuwara — 7.1 km away
• Hedigalla — 7.5 km away
• Kalawana, Rain Forest — 9.2 km away · Sabaragamuwa Province
• Evergreen Group, Lihiniyawa — 9.8 km away
• Renukanda Tea Estate — 10.0 km away · B158

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Baduraeliya

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Baduraeliya (25 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Baduraeliya recorded 3,909 mm in 2025, 61% more than the 2,435 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
Chandpur Belgaon tea Estate Factory	Chattogram, Bangladesh	25 m	2,165 mm	29.7 °C
Premnagar Tea Estate	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	25 m	2,296 mm	30.2 °C
Mahesland	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	25 m	3,412 mm	29.8 °C
Hangzhou Kainong Factory	Zhejiang, China	26 m	1,280 mm	24.8 °C
BHUBRIGHAT TEA ESTATE	ASSAM, India	26 m	3,022 mm	30.0 °C

Baduraeliya Compared with Western Province

In Western Province, Baduraeliya is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 57% of the others by elevation; the warmest of the 22 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Baduraeliya against the 21 other estates we map in Western Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Baduraeliya	Region median	Region range
Elevation	25 m	21 m	9 to 1,272 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,909 mm	3,756 mm	2,624 to 4,232 mm
Mean daily high	30.1 °C	29.7 °C	22.7 to 30.0 °C
Mean overnight low	22.9 °C	22.4 °C	15.8 to 23.6 °C

Observed Climate at Baduraeliya (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Baduraeliya’s coordinates recorded 3,909 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was July (515 mm) and the driest was February (86 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.1 °C and overnight lows 22.9 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,909 mm
Wettest month	July (515 mm)
Driest month	February (86 mm)
Mean daily high	30.1 °C
Mean overnight low	22.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Baduraeliya located?

Baduraeliya is in Western Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.5176, 80.2340, at an elevation of about 25 metres.

What type of tea does Baduraeliya produce?

Baduraeliya is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Baduraeliya supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Baduraeliya as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Baduraeliya receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,909 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in July (515 mm).

How does Baduraeliya compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Baduraeliya recorded 3,909 mm in 2025, 61% more rain than the 2,435 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].