Keyhung Tea Estate

Keyhung Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in Assam, India, at an elevation of approximately 120 metres. The estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., a major name in the Indian tea industry, and is recorded as supplying Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's leading supermarket chains.

Terroir & Climate

At 120 metres above sea level, Keyhung occupies low-lying terrain typical of much of Assam's Brahmaputra valley. Estates at this elevation generally experience the region's characteristic warm, humid climate and substantial monsoon rainfall, conditions that tend to encourage vigorous vegetative growth. The combination of alluvial soils, high temperatures, and moisture typically supports the productive output for which Assam is known, though it also means that the growing season is long and largely uninterrupted by cold-weather dormancy.

This latitude and altitude tend to favour the development of robust, malty leaf chemistry rather than the more delicate aromatics sometimes associated with higher-elevation gardens. The lack of significant diurnal temperature variation at this elevation generally results in faster-growing leaf with bold, astringent characteristics rather than the complexity that cooler nights can foster.

Tea Produced

Keyhung produces black tea. Estates in this part of Assam, working at similar low elevations, typically yield full-bodied, malty liquors with pronounced astringency and a deep coppery colour. The cup profile that this terroir tends to produce is brisk and robust, well-suited to breakfast blends and milk-based preparations, though individual garden management and plucking standards can of course influence the final character.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Keyhung's recorded supply relationship with Sainsbury's positions the estate within the mainstream retail supply chain for branded and own-label black tea in the United Kingdom. Sainsbury's sources Assam teas both for blending and for single-origin retail products, and the presence of Keyhung in that supply base suggests a level of volume capability and consistency expected by major grocery multiples. This relationship reflects the estate's role in meeting the specifications and audit requirements that large-scale retailers typically impose on their tea suppliers.

• Recorded supplier to  Sainsbury's

Operator

Mcleod Russel India Ltd. is the operator of Keyhung Tea Estate. Historically one of the world's largest private-sector tea producers, Mcleod Russel controls a substantial portfolio of tea gardens across India's major growing regions. The company operates six other estates recorded in our directory, reflecting the scale and geographic spread of its production base.

Certifications & Ethics

Keyhung Tea Estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that works to improve environmental and social conditions on tea estates. ETP certification indicates that the estate has undergone assessment against the partnership's standards, which cover areas including labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship, and that it is subject to ongoing monitoring and improvement plans where gaps are identified.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Keyhung Tea Estate lies at 27.4334, 95.3308 in Assam, India. Its 120 m elevation is the 22nd highest of 66 estates we map in Assam. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Itakhooli Tea Estate — 3.9 km away
• Bordubi Tea Estate — 4.4 km away · Bordubi No.1
• Dirial Tea Estate — 6.3 km away · Tinsukia
• Rungagora J — 6.3 km away
• TALUP — 6.6 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Keyhung Tea Estate

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Keyhung Tea Estate (120 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Keyhung Tea Estate recorded 3,374 mm in 2025, 40% more than the 2,412 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
KDU, Matuwagalla	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	120 m	3,902 mm	29.5 °C
Andaradeniya Estate, Andaradeniya	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	120 m	3,054 mm	29.2 °C
Towkok Tea Estate	Towkok Grant No.2, India	121 m	2,218 mm	27.9 °C
Amgoorie Tea Estate	Assam, India	122 m	2,573 mm	28.4 °C
I \u0026 M Smith	Western Cape, South Africa	124 m	313 mm	27.4 °C

Keyhung Tea Estate Compared with Assam

In Assam, Keyhung Tea Estate is wetter than 89% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 68% of the others by elevation; cooler than 97% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Keyhung 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	Keyhung Tea Estate	Region median	Region range
Elevation	120 m	109 m	26 to 266 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	3,374 mm	2,919 mm	1,742 to 4,142 mm
Mean daily high	28.1 °C	28.7 °C	27.9 to 30.0 °C
Mean overnight low	19.1 °C	19.6 °C	18.8 to 21.1 °C

Observed Climate at Keyhung Tea Estate (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Keyhung Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 3,374 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was August (576 mm) and the driest was December (9 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.1 °C and overnight lows 19.1 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	3,374 mm
Wettest month	August (576 mm)
Driest month	December (9 mm)
Mean daily high	28.1 °C
Mean overnight low	19.1 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Keyhung Tea Estate located?

Keyhung Tea Estate is in Assam, India, at coordinates 27.4334, 95.3308, at an elevation of about 120 metres.

Who operates Keyhung Tea Estate?

Keyhung Tea Estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Keyhung Tea Estate produce?

Keyhung Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Keyhung Tea Estate supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Keyhung Tea Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.

What certifications does Keyhung Tea Estate hold?

Keyhung Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does Keyhung Tea Estate receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,374 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in August (576 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].