Tea cultivation in the Ecolodge area

Geographically, the Sinharaja eastern sector where the Enselwatte Estate is located has the perfect climate for tea cultivation despite the few odd vagaries of weather in the area.

It has the benefit of both, the south-west and the north-east monsoons with an annual rainfall of 3250mm-4000mm. While it rains throughout the year it is particularly high during the south-west monsoon. Day temperatures vary between 21-26 degrees (Celsius) dipping down at night between 16-19 degrees (Celsius).

The periodical thick clouds of mist and strong winds of July-August could be regarded as the only unfavourable factors especially when the heavy gusts affect the buds leading to a reduction in yield.

Soil layer which is made up of red-yellow podzolic soil and the 27-hectare of vegetatively propagated tea planted during the late 1950s and well into the 1960s produce an annual crop of approximately 141,811kg per year. The tea which is plucked by 56 male and female labourers is transported to the tea factory at the end of the day for processing.