In short: Hunan Tea Group, Corporate is a tea production facility in Hunan province, China, operated by Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd. and recorded as supplying Finlays and Sainsbury's.
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate is a tea production facility located in Hunan province, China, at an altitude of approximately 35 metres. The operation is managed by Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd., which also operates at least one other estate recorded in industry directories. The facility is known to supply Finlays and Sainsbury's, indicating its participation in international supply chains serving both trade intermediaries and major UK retail.
Terroir & Climate
At 35 metres elevation in Hunan province—positioned at approximately 28°N latitude in south-central China—this facility occupies lowland terrain where subtropical monsoon conditions typically prevail. Estates at such low elevations in this region generally experience warm, humid summers with abundant rainfall and milder winters, a climate that tends to support vigorous vegetative growth and extended harvest windows. The warmth and moisture characteristic of Hunan's lower elevations often allow for early spring flushes and multiple picking rounds through the growing season.
Lowland sites in subtropical China typically yield leaf with robust growth rates, though the warmer temperatures and faster metabolism can influence the balance of amino acids and polyphenols in the plucked material. The region's clay-rich soils and high humidity generally favour productive cultivation, while the latitude and elevation together tend to produce teas with a different aromatic and structural profile compared to higher-altitude gardens elsewhere in China.
Tea Produced
The facility produces green, oolong, and black teas, reflecting the versatility common to operations in Hunan province. Green teas from lowland Hunan sites often exhibit a fuller body and vegetal character, while oolongs from this region can range from lightly oxidised, floral styles to darker, more robust expressions. Black teas produced at lower elevations in subtropical China generally tend toward malty, slightly sweet profiles with moderate astringency, though specific cup character will vary with cultivar, processing, and season.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate supplies both Finlays—a major global tea trading and blending house—and Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This dual customer profile suggests the facility produces both bulk trade parcels destined for blending and packers, as well as finished product that meets the specifications and compliance standards of a major UK retailer. The relationship with Sainsbury's in particular indicates the operation's ability to navigate third-party audit requirements and traceability protocols typical of European grocery supply chains.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
The facility is operated by Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd., a corporate entity that also manages at least one other production site recorded in industry directories. Multi-site operators of this kind often consolidate processing, quality assurance, and export logistics across their estates, potentially offering buyers greater volume flexibility and consistency. The corporate structure suggests a degree of vertical integration within Hunan's tea sector.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate lies at 28.1993, 113.0560 in Hunan, China. Its 35 m elevation is the joint 48th highest of 60 estates we map in China. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd. - final packing and refining processing — 2.0 km away · Changsha
- Shimen Liziping Tea Professional Cooperative (Shimen Liziping) — 2.1 km away · Xiangcha High-Tech Industrial Park Xiangcha
- HUNAN TEA COMPANY — 8.8 km away · FURONG DISTRICT
- Changsha Tea Factory — 21 km away · Hunan Province
- Hunan Jinjin Tea Factory Co., Ltd — 48 km away · Changsha
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Hunan Tea Group, Corporate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Hunan Tea Group, Corporate (35 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Hunan Tea Group, Corporate recorded 1,348 mm in 2025, 55% less than the 3,021 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulatiyana Tea \u00a0Factory | B98, Sri Lanka | 35 m | 2,491 mm | 30.4 °C |
| Parakaduwa | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 35 m | 4,574 mm | 30.0 °C |
| Chotolekha Tea Estate Factory | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 37 m | 3,054 mm | 29.9 °C |
| Hafiz Tea Estate | Moulvibazar, Bangladesh | 33 m | 3,547 mm | 29.9 °C |
| Zealong Tea Estate Ltd | 495 Gordonton Road, New Zealand | 33 m | 1,438 mm | 19.2 °C |
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate Compared with China
In China, Hunan Tea Group, Corporate is drier than 75% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 81% of the others by elevation; warmer than 78% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Hunan Tea Group, Corporate against the 59 other estates we map in China, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Hunan Tea Group, Corporate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 35 m | 149 m | 7 to 2,002 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,348 mm | 1,470 mm | 1,030 to 2,779 mm |
| Mean daily high | 24.8 °C | 24.2 °C | 18.2 to 27.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.4 °C | 14.8 °C | 10.6 to 17.9 °C |
Observed Climate at Hunan Tea Group, Corporate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Hunan Tea Group, Corporate’s coordinates recorded 1,348 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was June (244 mm) and the driest was October (29 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.8 °C and overnight lows 16.4 °C over the year; August was the warmest month and February the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,348 mm |
| Wettest month | June (244 mm) |
| Driest month | October (29 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 24.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hunan Tea Group, Corporate located?
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate is in Hunan, China, at coordinates 28.1993, 113.0560, at an elevation of about 35 metres.
Who operates Hunan Tea Group, Corporate?
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate is operated by Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Hunan Tea Group, Corporate produce?
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate is recorded as producing green, oolong and black tea.
Which buyers does Hunan Tea Group, Corporate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Hunan Tea Group, Corporate as supplying Finlays, Sainsbury's.
How much rain does Hunan Tea Group, Corporate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,348 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in June (244 mm).
How does Hunan Tea Group, Corporate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Hunan Tea Group, Corporate recorded 1,348 mm in 2025, 55% less rain than the 3,021 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].
