The Kandy tea-growing district forms part of the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Though its capital nestles in a relatively low-lying valley, the estates themselves are dotted about the surrounding hills – in Nilambe, Hantane, Pussellawa, Gampola and, of course, Hewaheta. They are not as high up as those in the southern part of the central massif, so the tea of the Kandy region is described as ‘mid-grown’, the altitude of cultivation ranging between 650 m and 1300 m.
The local weather is influenced largely by the southwest monsoon system, the winds blowing in force up the mountain passes, though Kandy itself is relatively sheltered. Many of the estates, too, are clustered in valleys where the wind is less fierce, and the tea they produce are stronger and deeper-coloured than the rest of the region’s produce.
The teas of the Kandy region are said to be particularly flavoursome, though, as with all teas, their strength is inversely proportional to the elevation at which they are grown. In fact, the region produces a broad range of strengths and styles: estates at lower elevations produce a larger leaf with gives a stronger-flavoured beverage, while those higher up grow a smaller leaf that yields a more subtle and delicate flavour. Kandy factories also produce a broad mix of different ‘grades’ or leaf-particle sizes, from whole-leaf and semi-broken grades through broken orange pekoes or ‘BOPs’ to BOP fannings. CTC-style teas are also produced. Since leaf particle size affects the strength of the brew, the general effect from Kandy teas is one of considerable local and regional variety.
Kandy teas tend to produce a relatively bright infusion with a coppery tone. Though lighter in the cup, they present a good deal of strength and body, though not as much as the lower-grown products of Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna. Most Kandy-district estates lie on the western slopes of the hills, so their taste is influenced by the ‘western quality season’, meaning that the best tea is produced during the first quarter of the year, when cool, dry weather sets in across the district.
Tea factories
Name | Tea District | Admin District | Address |
---|---|---|---|
Alagalla | Kandy | Kandy | Allagalla Tea Factory Manikdiwela Pothapitiya |
Allagolla | Uva, Kandy | Badulla, Kandy | Udapussellawa |
Alpitiya | Kandy | Kandy | |
Alupola | Kandy | Ratnapura | Alupola Estate |
Ambilmeegama | Kandy | Kandy | Ambilmeegama Pilimathalawa |
Ancoombra | Kandy | Kandy | Ancoombra Group Pujapitiya Nanuoya |
Baldura | Kandy | Kandy | Kdugannawa Road Bowela Gampola |
Bandarapola | Kandy | Matale | Bandarapola Estate Alwatte Matale |
Baranagalla | Kandy | Kandy | Rakshawa Udahentenna |
Bollagalla | Kandy | Kandy | Bolagal Estate Werallagama Harispaththuwa |
Bopitiya | Kandy | Kandy | |
Bulathwatta | Kandy | Kandy | 82/3 Batupitiya Leemagahakotuwa |
Carolina | Kandy | Kandy | Corelina Estate Watawala |
Castlemilk | Kandy | Kandy | Panwilatenna Gampola |
Coolbawn | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Coolbawn Tea Factory Ambagammuwa Ginigathhena |
Cooroondoowatte | Kandy | Kandy | Cooroonduwatte Estate Udahentenna Gampola |
Cottaganga | Kandy | Kandy | |
Craighead | Kandy | Kandy | Craighead Estate Nawalapitiya |
Dartry | Kandy | Kandy | Angammana Darty Estate Gampola |
Deenside | Kandy | Kandy | Deenside Kadugannawa Road Gampola |
Dehigama | Kandy | Kandy | Dehigama Estate Murutalawa |
Dehiwatte | Kandy | Kandy | 195 Dodandeniya Leemagahakotuwa |
Delta | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Delta Estate Pussellawa |
Deraniyagala | Kandy | Ilukthenna Deraniyagala | |
Doragalla | Kandy | Kandy | Doragalla Pupuressa |
Dotel Oya | Kandy | Kandy | Dotaloya Group Dolosbage |
Duckwari | Kandy | Kandy | Duckwari Estaterangala |
Edengrove | Kandy | Kandy | |
Elpitikande | Kandy | Kandy | Kovilakanda Udunuwara Kandy |
Elpitiya | Kandy | Kandy | Udowita Gampola Kandy |
Erin | Kandy | Kandy | |
Erine | Kandy | Kandy | Galaha |
Four Ever Naturals (Pvt) Ltd | Kandy | Kandy | 1Aboi Industrial Park Pallekele |
Galamuduna | Kandy | Kandy | Galamuduna Estate Dolosbage |
Galphele | Kandy | Kandy | |
Gatagahawella | Kandy | Kandy | Udispattuwa Rangala |
Giragama | Kandy | Kandy | |
Glenloch | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Katukitula |
Godakumbura | Godakumbura Udagama Kandy | ||
Godapola | Kandy | Matale | Godapola Raththota Matale |
Goomera | Kandy | Kandy | Goomera Estate Thawalantenna Via Wattegama |
Goorookoya | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Goorookoya Tea Plantation Po Box 13 Nawalapitiya |
Green Valley | Kandy | Kandy | Liyangahawatte Udunuwara Kandy |
Green View | Kandy | Kandy | Ginigathhena Road Rabukpitiya Nawalapitiya |
Greenwood | Kandy | Kandy | Green Wood Estate Nawalapitiya |
Gurudeniya | Kandy | Kandy | Gelioya |
Hagalla | Kandy | Kandy | Hagalla Estate |
Hapugolle | Kandy | Kandy | Vilangama Kandy |
Harangalla | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Sanrose Teas (Pvt) Ltd Harangala Tea Factory Katabula |
Hatale | Kandy | Matale | Hathale Panvila Kandy |
Hellbodde | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Hellbodde Estate Katukitula |
Hope | Uva | Kandy | Hope Estate Hewaheta |
Imboolpitiya | Kandy | Kandy | Imbulpitiya Estate Nawalapitiya |
Ingurugalla | Kandy | Kandy | Ingurugalla Estate Patitalawa Dolosbage |
James Valley | Kandy | Kandy | New Gurukelle Doluwa Kandy |
Kadugannawa | Kandy | Kandy | No 167 Pahala Kadugannawa Kadugannawa |
Kallebokka | Kandy | Kandy | Kellebokka Madulkelle |
Kataboola | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Kataboola Estate |
Kellie Group | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Dolosbage Nawalapitiya |
Kenilworth | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Kenilworth Estate Ginigathhena |
Kingslynn Organic | Kandy | Kandy | No 04 Kumudu Mawatha Primrose Gardens Kandy |
Kirimetiya | Kandy | Kandy | Pottepitiya Menikdiwela |
Kurugama | Kandy | Kandy | Kurugama Estate Muruthalwa Via Kandy |
Lantern Hill East | Kandy | Kandy | Welikandameethalawa Kandy |
Lantern Hill Upper | Kandy | Kandy | |
Le Vallon | Kandy | Kandy | Levallon Group Pupuressa |
Loolecondera Group | Kandy | Kandy | Loolcondra Group Deltota |
Lower Donside | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Lower Donside Estate Nawalapitiya |
Madokelle | Kandy | Matale | |
Madulkelle | Kandy | Matale | Madulkelle Estate Panwi;A Kandy |
Mahaousa | Kandy | Kandy | |
Mahawilla Group | Kandy | Kandy | |
Malgolla | Kandy | Kandy | Pattithalawadolosbage Kandy |
Matale West | Kandy | Matale | Matale Estate Matale |
Medagoda | Kandy | Kandy | Medagoda Estate Watakedeniya Udahentanne |
Melfort | Kandy | Kandy | Melfort Estatepussellawa |
Midlands | Kandy | Matale | Midlands Estate Rattota |
Monte Cristo | Kandy | Kandy | Dolosbage Road Nawalapitiya |
Mossville | Kandy | Kandy | Mossville Estate Dolosbage |
Mount Alisa | Kandy | Kandy | Alawatte Spo Matale |
Mount Franion | Kandy | Kandy | Murutalawa Kandy |
Mowbray | Kandy | Kandy | 568 Hinnarandeniya Gampola |
Muruthalawa | Kandy | Kandy | Dehigamayatinuwara Kandy |
Nagastenne Group | Kandy | Kandy | Nagastenna Estate Nawalapitiya |
Nanuoya | Kandy | Kandy | Heandeniya Udunuwara Kandy |
Nayapane | Kandy | Kandy | Nayapane Estate Pussellawa |
New Baddegama | Kandy | Kandy | Baddegama Tawalantenne Kandy |
New Fernland | Kandy | Kandy | New Fernland Watte Ulapane |
New Peacock Group | Kandy | Kandy | New Peacock Estate Pussellawa |
Nilloomall | Kandy | Kandy | |
Oonoogaloya | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Kothmale Nuwara Eliya |
Orange Field | Kandy | Kandy | Panwilatenna Gampola |
Pallegama | Kandy | Kandy | Ulapane Kandy |
Pansalatenne | Kandy | Matale | |
Pattiyagama | Kandy | Kandy | Pattiyagama Tea Factory Delthota Kandy |
Pilimatalawa | Kandy | Kandy | Pilimathalawa Road Kandy |
Rahaman Tea Company | Kandy | Kandy | Hewahata Road Deltota |
Raja Ela | Kandy | Kandy | Ulapane Kuruduwatte Kandy |
Rangalla Group | Kandy | Kandy | Rangala Kandy |
Raxawa | Kandy | Kandy | Panwila Kandy |
Rhineland | Kandy | Kandy | Pussellawa |
Roshelhil | Kandy | Kandy | |
Rothschild | Kandy | Kandy | Rothschildd Estate Pussellawa |
Sanquhar | Kandy | Kandy | Sanquhar Estate Attabage |
Seevali Hill | Kandy | Kandy | Wattappola Kadugannawa |
Stellenberg | Kandy | Kandy | Stellenberg Estate Pupuressa |
Storefield | Kandy | Kandy | Atabage Delpitiya Gampola |
Tea Shakthi - Kotmale | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Nawatispane Tispane |
Tea Shakthi - Mahaweli | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Ruwanpura Gampola |
Teliwanne | Kandy | Kandy | Galpaya Gampola Kandy |
Udayakanda | Kandy | Kandy | 184 B Kandy Road Welamboda |
Uduwela | Kandy | Kandy | |
Ulapane | Kandy | Kandy | |
Uplands | Kandy | Kandy | Uplands Estate Peradeniya |
Watadeniya | Kandy | Kandy | Watadeniya Welamboda Gampola |
Weddemulla | Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | Wedamulla Estate Ramboda |
Vedehette | Kandy | Kandy | Vedahetta Estate Galaha |
Velana | Kandy | Kandy | |
Weliganga | Kandy | Kandy | Ulapane Nawalapitiya |
West Hall | Kandy | Kandy | West Hall Estate Kotmale |
Yahalatenne | Kandy | Kandy | Yahalatenna Estate Warallagama |
Source: Sri Lanka Tea Board
2 Comments
Do you know if Godapola is still operational?
My great granfather used to own it, and we are in Kandy next week, and so we could visit.
Do you have further details about Goomera as my ancestor Charles Barham Collinson used to be the Manager there in 1870/1871. It would be great to have any photo’s of the plantation and of Charles if one exists.