In short: Hunwal Tea Estate is an Assam tea producer at 116 metres, operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd. and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Hunwal Tea Estate is a black tea producer situated in Assam, India, at an elevation of 116 metres. The estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., historically one of the largest tea producers in the world. Hunwal is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major participant in the global tea supply chain, and holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Terroir & Climate
At 116 metres above sea level, Hunwal occupies the low-lying plains characteristic of Assam's principal tea-growing belt. Estates at this elevation in the Brahmaputra valley typically experience a warm, humid climate with substantial monsoon rainfall, conditions that generally favour vigorous vegetative growth and high biochemical activity in the leaf. The combination of alluvial soils and minimal diurnal temperature variation tends to promote rapid flush cycles during the growing season.
Assam's latitude—approximately 26.6° N in Hunwal's case—combined with its low altitude usually results in year-round warmth that supports continuous cropping for much of the year, with peak quality periods often occurring during the second flush in late spring and early summer. Estates in this terroir zone generally produce teas with a robust leaf and a high concentration of polyphenols, though microclimatic factors and garden management can introduce considerable variation.
Tea Produced
Hunwal produces black tea, the dominant category throughout Assam. Teas from low-elevation Assam estates typically yield a full-bodied, malty cup with brisk astringency and a deep amber to reddish liquor. The biochemical makeup of leaf grown in these warm, humid conditions generally favours strong, assertive flavour profiles well suited to breakfast blends and milk-based preparations, though specific manufacturing techniques and plucking standards will influence the final character.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Hunwal is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive blending, packing, and distribution operations serving retail and foodservice customers worldwide. This relationship places Hunwal within a commercial supply chain serving large-scale buyers, suggesting that the estate's output is likely destined for mainstream blends rather than single-estate retail. Supplying a company of Finlays' scale typically requires consistent volume and quality benchmarks aligned with commodity and branded blend specifications.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
Mcleod Russel India Ltd. operates Hunwal Tea Estate. At its peak, Mcleod Russel was the world's largest tea producer, managing dozens of estates across India and Africa. The company has faced financial restructuring in recent years, but it remains a significant operator in Assam. In addition to Hunwal, Mcleod Russel operates at least six other estates recorded in our directory, reflecting its continued footprint in the Indian tea sector.
Certifications & Ethics
Hunwal holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that works to improve labour and environmental standards across tea supply chains. ETP certification indicates that the estate has undergone monitoring against the partnership's code of conduct, which addresses issues such as wages, working conditions, health and safety, and pesticide management. For buyers, this certification offers a degree of third-party assurance on social compliance; for workers, it signals engagement with a framework designed to raise baseline standards in the industry.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Hunwal Tea Estate lies at 26.6468, 94.3293 in Assam, India. Its 116 m elevation is the 26th highest of 66 estates we map in Assam. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Hoolungooree Tea Estate — under 1 km away
- Kharikatia Tea Estate — 7.8 km away · Kukurapohia Ouguria Gaon
- Meleng Tea Estate — 11 km away · Goria Cha Bagisa
- Kakajan Tea Estate — 11 km away · No.160 Grant
- Boisahabi Tea Estate — 21 km away · Baisahabi Grant
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Hunwal Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Hunwal Tea Estate (116 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Hunwal Tea Estate recorded 2,483 mm in 2025, 11% less than the 2,780 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maud Tea Estate | Chetia Pathar, India | 116 m | 3,274 mm | 28.1 °C |
| Dirial Tea Estate | Tinsukia, India | 116 m | 3,021 mm | 28.0 °C |
| Yalta | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 117 m | 2,624 mm | 30.0 °C |
| KDU, Deerwood | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 119 m | 4,668 mm | 29.5 °C |
| Rooibos Limited | Western Cape, South Africa | 112 m | 313 mm | 27.4 °C |
Hunwal Tea Estate Compared with Assam
In Assam, Hunwal Tea Estate is drier than 83% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 62% of the others by elevation; cooler than 63% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Hunwal Tea Estate against the 65 other estates we map in Assam, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Hunwal Tea Estate | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 116 m | 109 m | 26 to 266 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,483 mm | 2,919 mm | 1,742 to 4,142 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.5 °C | 28.7 °C | 27.9 to 30.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.5 °C | 19.6 °C | 18.8 to 21.1 °C |
Observed Climate at Hunwal Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Hunwal Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,483 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (451 mm) and the driest was December (2 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.5 °C and overnight lows 19.5 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,483 mm |
| Wettest month | May (451 mm) |
| Driest month | December (2 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hunwal Tea Estate located?
Hunwal Tea Estate is in Assam, India, at coordinates 26.6468, 94.3293, at an elevation of about 116 metres.
Who operates Hunwal Tea Estate?
Hunwal Tea Estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Hunwal Tea Estate produce?
Hunwal Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Hunwal Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Hunwal Tea Estate as supplying Finlays.
What certifications does Hunwal Tea Estate hold?
Hunwal Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Hunwal Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,483 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (451 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].
