Sunils

Sunils is a tea estate located in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, operating at an elevation of 13 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee buyers. The operating company is not currently documented in trade records.

Terroir & Climate

At just 13 metres above sea level, Sunils sits within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, where estates typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round. This coastal elevation and tropical latitude generally favour rapid leaf growth, with minimal temperature variation between day and night. Low-grown Ceylon estates in the Western Province tend to benefit from the region's bimodal monsoon pattern, though the lack of altitude means less of the diurnal stress that contributes to slower, more complex leaf development seen in mid- and high-grown zones.

Estates at this elevation typically produce higher yields of robust leaf, with the warm, moist climate accelerating flush cycles. The Western Province's proximity to Colombo and the island's commercial heartland has historically made it a centre for tea production geared toward volume and consistency. However, the same warmth that drives productivity generally results in teas with less aromatic complexity than those grown in the cooler hill country.

Tea Produced

Sunils produces black tea, and estates at this low elevation in Sri Lanka's Western Province typically yield teas with bold, straightforward character. Low-grown Ceylon teas generally offer strength and colour in the cup, with robust, malty notes and less of the bright, floral aromatics associated with higher altitudes. These teas are often valued for blending, where body and consistency are prioritised, and tend to perform well with milk. The lack of elevation means the leaf is less likely to develop the delicate, nuanced flavour profiles sought in specialty single-estate offerings.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Sunils is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major global tea and coffee business with a vertically integrated supply chain spanning estates, blending, and brand partnerships. Finlays sources tea from multiple origins and operates both its own estates and long-term supplier relationships to feed its blending facilities and retail clients. Sunils' inclusion in Finlays' supply base suggests the estate's output is likely destined for commodity or blended tea markets, where volume, consistency, and competitive pricing are key. This market positioning is typical of low-grown Ceylon producers, whose teas often form the backbone of everyday blends rather than premium single-origin retail lines.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Sunils lies at 6.7228, 80.0414 in Western Province, Sri Lanka. Its 13 m elevation is the 18th highest of 22 estates we map in Western Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Gangani — 6.2 km away
• Rathmalgoda — 10 km away
• Kotagala Plantations, Rayigama — 14 km away
• Bulathsinhala — 14 km away
• H P P, H P P Tea — 14 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Sunils

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Sunils (13 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Sunils recorded 3,487 mm in 2025, 43% more than the 2,436 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
Imam tea Factory	Habiganj, Bangladesh	13 m	2,780 mm	30.1 °C
Zehjiang Tea Group	218 Ti Yui Chang Road, China	13 m	1,470 mm	24.3 °C
Nishi Tea Factory	Izumo, Japan	13 m	1,769 mm	19.7 °C
Nandana	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	13 m	2,837 mm	30.2 °C
Weihena	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	13 m	3,323 mm	29.6 °C

Sunils Compared with Western Province

In Western Province, Sunils is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 81% of the others by elevation; warmer than 86% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Sunils 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	Sunils	Region median	Region range
Elevation	13 m	24 m	9 to 1,272 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,487 mm	3,822 mm	2,624 to 4,232 mm
Mean daily high	30.0 °C	29.7 °C	22.7 to 30.1 °C
Mean overnight low	23.2 °C	22.4 °C	15.8 to 23.6 °C

Observed Climate at Sunils (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Sunils’s coordinates recorded 3,487 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (519 mm) and the driest was February (66 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.0 °C and overnight lows 23.2 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,487 mm
Wettest month	November (519 mm)
Driest month	February (66 mm)
Mean daily high	30.0 °C
Mean overnight low	23.2 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sunils located?

Sunils is in Western Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.7228, 80.0414, at an elevation of about 13 metres.

What type of tea does Sunils produce?

Sunils is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Sunils supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Sunils as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Sunils receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,487 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (519 mm).

How does Sunils compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Sunils recorded 3,487 mm in 2025, 43% more rain than the 2,436 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].