James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd.

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is a tea estate located in Guizhou province, China, at an elevation of 572 metres. The estate is operated by James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. and employs a workforce of 293. It is recorded as supplying Finlays, indicating integration within a vertically aligned supply chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 572 metres above sea level in Guizhou province, the estate occupies a mid-elevation position within a region whose subtropical latitude—close to 28° N—typically supports year-round mild temperatures and high humidity. Estates at this altitude in south-west China often experience a growing cycle moderated by frequent cloud cover and consistent moisture, conditions that can favour steady vegetative growth rather than the pronounced seasonal dormancy seen at higher elevations.

Guizhou's terroir is generally characterised by acidic soils and a climate where rainfall is distributed throughout much of the year. These conditions tend to encourage vigorous leaf development, and the moderate altitude often allows for multiple plucking rounds without the stress of extreme cold or intense ultraviolet exposure that shapes higher-grown teas elsewhere. The interplay of latitude, elevation, and regional weather patterns typically yields leaf with balanced astringency and a softer mineral edge than teas from more mountainous zones.

Tea Produced

The estate produces green, oolong, and black teas, a range that reflects both the versatility of Guizhou leaf and the processing infrastructure in place. Teas from mid-elevation estates in this province often exhibit a rounded, approachable character: greens tend toward gentle vegetal notes with moderate sweetness, oolongs may display floral or light stone-fruit nuances without heavy oxidation, and blacks typically offer malty or cocoa-tinged profiles with softer tannin structures than their Assam or Yunnan counterparts. The specific cup profile will depend on cultivar selection and processing intent, but the elevation and climate generally favour teas with accessible rather than austere flavour contours.

Supply Chain & Market Position

The estate is recorded as supplying Finlays, a relationship that underscores direct vertical integration: the operating company and the buyer share common corporate identity. This structure is characteristic of estates that function as captive origin assets within a multinational tea group, ensuring traceability and alignment with the blending and quality specifications of downstream buyers. Finlays' global presence in tea sourcing and blending suggests that output from this estate is likely destined for private-label and foodservice channels in Europe, North America, and other mature markets where supply-chain transparency and certification are increasingly expected by retail partners.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is the operating company for the estate. Our directory does not currently record any sibling estates under the same operator in this region, suggesting that this may represent a focused investment in Guizhou's tea-growing potential rather than part of a broader multi-estate portfolio within the province. The Finlay name itself has long historical associations with tea cultivation and trade, though the specifics of corporate structure and ownership evolution are beyond the scope of this profile.

Certifications & Ethics

The estate holds certification with the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that promotes continuous improvement in labour conditions, environmental stewardship, and community engagement across tea-producing regions. For buyers, ETP membership signals a commitment to third-party monitoring and remediation frameworks; for the estate's 293 workers, it implies access to grievance mechanisms and alignment with internationally recognised standards on working hours, health and safety, and freedom of association, though certification alone does not guarantee uniform outcomes across all certified sites.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. lies at 27.9522, 108.2154 in Guizhou province, China. Its 572 m elevation is the 17th highest of 60 estates we map in China. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Fengxiangyuan Tea Industry Co., Ltd. — 70 km away
• Shangba Tea Farm — 90 km away · Zunyi City
• Guzhang Organic Tea Co., Ltd. — 185 km away · Guzhang County
• Hunan Xiaoxiang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. - Baotian Town — 196 km away · Huitong County
• ZTG Jinsha Tea Base — 225 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd.

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. (572 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. recorded 1,604 mm in 2025, 35% less than the 2,478 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
New Weliganga	Central Province, Sri Lanka	571 m	3,032 mm	27.3 °C
Kirimetiya	Central Province, Sri Lanka	575 m	2,534 mm	27.9 °C
Badamtam Tea Estate	Weste Bengal, India	608 m	2,753 mm	27.2 °C
ESPERANZA	Mulanje, Malawi	643 m	1,677 mm	26.9 °C
Kawalazi Tea Estate	D44, Malawi	653 m	2,396 mm	27.2 °C

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. Compared with China

In China, James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is wetter than 66% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 73% of the others by elevation; cooler than 78% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. against the 59 other estates we map in China, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd.	Country median	Country range
Elevation	572 m	137 m	7 to 2,002 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,604 mm	1,470 mm	1,030 to 2,779 mm
Mean daily high	22.2 °C	24.2 °C	18.2 to 27.6 °C
Mean overnight low	13.9 °C	14.9 °C	10.6 to 17.9 °C

Observed Climate at James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd.’s coordinates recorded 1,604 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was June (304 mm) and the driest was December (58 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.2 °C and overnight lows 13.9 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and February the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,604 mm
Wettest month	June (304 mm)
Driest month	December (58 mm)
Mean daily high	22.2 °C
Mean overnight low	13.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. located?

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is in Guizhou province, China, at coordinates 27.9522, 108.2154, at an elevation of about 572 metres.

Who operates James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd.?

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is operated by James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. produce?

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is recorded as producing green, oolong and black tea.

Which buyers does James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. supply?

Public supplier disclosures record James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. as supplying Finlays.

What certifications does James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. hold?

James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does James Finlay (Guizhou) Tea Co.Ltd. receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,604 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in June (304 mm).

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].