Uva Highland Estate
A Legacy of Fine Tea from the Heart of the Eastern Highlands
Founded in 1909 by Mr. A. I. Jainudeen MBV, a pioneering Ceylonese planter, Uva Highlands Estate stands as a historic symbol of Sri Lanka’s rich tea legacy. Situated along the Bandarawela–Attempitiya Main Road in Pattiyagedera, Maligathenna, the estate lies within the famed Uva Province, part of the Badulla District, and is perched at an elevation ranging from 1219 to 1220 meters above sea level.
Spanning 326 hectares, the estate comprises 80.32% Seedling Division (SD) and 19.68% Vegetatively Propagated (VP) tea fields. The majority of the tea cultivated here originates from old Chinese and Assam seedling stock, contributing to the estate’s exceptional seasonal flavours—uniquely influenced by the Katchchan trade winds, dry and cool air currents that flow from the deserts of North India across the Eastern Highlands of Sri Lanka.
In 1920, the estate’s tea factory was constructed at an elevation of 1220 meters, and today it stands as a modern facility certified under ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP, and Rainforest Alliance standards. The factory proudly processes Orthodox Leafy and Rotovane teas, marketed under the prestigious Uva Highlands selling mark.
Originally managed by Messrs Mackwood, the estate was nationalized in 1975 and administered by the Janatha Estates Development Board until its privatization in 1992, after which it came under the expert care of Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC.
In addition to its globally admired tea, the estate also cultivates a Lemon Orchard, enhancing its agricultural diversity and commitment to sustainable growth.
Today, Uva Highlands Estate continues to produce teas with the distinctive character of the Uva High region—bold, aromatic, and deeply rooted in a century-old tradition.
