In short: Southtee Handel is a tea estate in Ximeng, China, operating at 1,907 metres and certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Southtee Handel is a tea estate located in Ximeng, a county in Yunnan province, China, positioned at an altitude of 1,907 metres. The estate is operated by Southtee Handel and produces green, oolong, and black teas. No buyers are currently recorded in industry supply‑chain databases.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,907 metres above sea level and positioned at approximately 22.7°N, Southtee Handel occupies a high‑elevation zone in Yunnan where cooler temperatures and pronounced diurnal variation typically slow leaf development. Estates at this altitude in the region often experience mist cover during much of the growing season, which tends to moderate direct sunlight and maintain relatively high humidity around the canopy.
Ximeng lies in the southwestern corner of Yunnan, an area that generally receives the tail‑end of monsoonal systems moving north from Southeast Asia. The combination of latitude, altitude, and topography in this part of the province tends to create conditions conducive to slower, more gradual growth cycles, which are often associated with greater accumulation of amino acids and polyphenols in the leaf.
Tea Produced
Southtee Handel produces green, oolong, and black teas. High‑altitude Yunnan estates of this type are often capable of yielding green teas with a clean, brisk character and a vegetal or floral edge, while oolongs from such elevations tend to exhibit a balance of brightness and body. Black teas produced in this altitude band in Yunnan typically show malty or honeyed notes with moderate astringency, though cup profile will vary with cultivar, processing, and seasonal conditions.
Certifications & Ethics
Southtee Handel is certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership, an independent membership organisation that works with tea producers to improve working and environmental conditions across the supply chain. Certification under the ETP scheme indicates that the estate has undergone third‑party auditing against the partnership's code of conduct, which addresses issues including labour rights, health and safety, and responsible use of agrochemicals. For buyers, ETP certification offers a degree of assurance regarding social and environmental performance; for workers, it is intended to support safer working conditions and more transparent employment practices.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Southtee Handel lies at 22.7318, 99.4557 in Ximeng, China. Its 1907 m elevation is the 2nd highest of 60 estates we map in China. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Yixian Qingye Tea Farm Co. Ltd - Refining and primary processing — 47 km away · Menglian County
- Green Fountain Yunnan Tea Co., Ltd.Mangbai — 51 km away · Yunnan Province
- Green Fountain Yunnan Tea Co., Ltd- Lailong — 57 km away · Yunnan Province
- Hunan Yiqingyuan Everspring Tea Co., Ltd. — 155 km away · Pu'Er City
- Hubei Wuhan Jiarun Huiming Tea Co., Ltd. — 166 km away · Yongde County
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Southtee Handel
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Southtee Handel (1,907 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Southtee Handel recorded 2,285 mm in 2025, 34% more than the 1,707 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chebango | Silibwet - Kapsoiyo - Kapsimotwa Rd, Kenya | 1,906 m | 1,067 mm | 24.4 °C |
| TEGAT | Kericho, Kenya | 1,909 m | 1,672 mm | 23.4 °C |
| Elpitiya Plantations, Meddecombara North | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,912 m | 3,152 mm | 19.3 °C |
| Havukal Estate | Kotagiri, India | 1,915 m | 1,459 mm | 20.0 °C |
| MUSHUBI | GICUMBI, Rwanda | 1,899 m | 1,186 mm | 22.7 °C |
Southtee Handel Compared with China
In China, Southtee Handel is wetter than 97% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 98% of the others by elevation; cooler than 93% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Southtee Handel against the 59 other estates we map in China, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Southtee Handel | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,907 m | 137 m | 7 to 2,002 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,285 mm | 1,470 mm | 1,030 to 2,779 mm |
| Mean daily high | 20.0 °C | 24.2 °C | 18.2 to 27.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 11.4 °C | 14.9 °C | 10.6 to 17.9 °C |
Observed Climate at Southtee Handel (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Southtee Handel’s coordinates recorded 2,285 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was July (560 mm) and the driest was December (5 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.0 °C and overnight lows 11.4 °C over the year; June was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,285 mm |
| Wettest month | July (560 mm) |
| Driest month | December (5 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 20.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 11.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southtee Handel located?
Southtee Handel is in Ximeng, China, at coordinates 22.7318, 99.4557, at an elevation of about 1907 metres.
Who operates Southtee Handel?
Southtee Handel is operated by Southtee Handel, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Southtee Handel produce?
Southtee Handel is recorded as producing green, oolong and black tea.
What certifications does Southtee Handel hold?
Southtee Handel is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Southtee Handel receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,285 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in July (560 mm).
How does Southtee Handel compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Southtee Handel recorded 2,285 mm in 2025, 34% more rain than the 1,707 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].
