Potong Tea Garden

Potong Tea Garden is a tea estate in the Darjeeling region of India, operated under the name Potong Tea Garden. Situated at an altitude of 2,100 metres, it is one of the higher-elevation gardens in the district. The estate is known to supply Equal Exchange, a fair-trade focused distributor.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,100 metres, Potong occupies a high-altitude position typical of Darjeeling's upper-elevation estates. Gardens at this elevation generally experience cooler temperatures, greater diurnal variation, and more intense solar radiation, all of which tend to slow leaf maturation. This slower growth cycle is often associated with concentrated flavour compounds and a more delicate leaf structure.

Darjeeling's climate is shaped by the monsoon, with a pronounced wet season typically from June to September and a dry winter. Estates at this latitude and elevation commonly experience mist and cloud cover, which can moderate temperature extremes and contribute to the moisture regime that influences flush timing and leaf chemistry. These conditions tend to favour the development of the nuanced, aromatic character for which the region is known.

Tea Produced

Potong produces black tea. High-elevation Darjeeling estates such as this typically yield teas with bright, brisk liquors and a complex aromatic profile. First-flush production, when it occurs, tends to offer lighter, more floral notes, while second-flush teas from similar elevations often develop the muscatel character and amber colour associated with the region. The slow maturation at altitude generally supports a refined astringency and layered cup, though individual harvest and processing choices will vary.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Potong Tea Garden is recorded as supplying Equal Exchange, a company with a long-standing commitment to fair-trade sourcing. This relationship suggests that the estate participates in supply chains prioritising transparency and equitable trading terms. Equal Exchange's presence in the North American and European speciality tea markets positions Potong within a segment of the industry that values traceability and ethical sourcing alongside quality.

• Recorded supplier to  Equal Exchange

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Potong Tea Garden lies at 27.0416, 88.2664 in Darjeeling, India. Its 2100 m elevation is the joint 1st highest of 8 estates we map in Darjeeling. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Barnesbeg Tea Estate — under 1 km away
• Mondakotee — under 1 km away
• Mullotar — under 1 km away
• Happy valley — under 1 km away · West Bengal
• Glenburn Tea Estate — 1.4 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Potong Tea Garden

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Potong Tea Garden (2,100 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Potong Tea Garden recorded 2,294 mm in 2025, 43% more than the 1,606 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
Mataara Tea Factory	Gachege, Kenya	2,106 m	1,455 mm	19.8 °C
Ndaraweta Tea Factory Ltd	Bomet, Kenya	2,107 m	1,519 mm	22.0 °C
TEZA	Muramvya, Burundi	2,118 m	1,533 mm	20.1 °C
Welbeck Tea Estate	Tamil Nadu, India	2,077 m	1,583 mm	18.8 °C
DUNSANDLE ESTATE	TAMIL NADU, India	2,054 m	1,941 mm	20.5 °C

Potong Tea Garden Compared with Darjeeling

In Darjeeling, Potong Tea Garden is the driest of the 8 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 57% of the others by elevation; the coolest of the 8 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Potong Tea Garden against the 7 other estates we map in Darjeeling, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Potong Tea Garden	Region median	Region range
Elevation	2,100 m	1,936 m	923 to 2,100 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,294 mm	2,294 mm	2,294 to 4,758 mm
Mean daily high	16.9 °C	18.0 °C	16.9 to 23.4 °C
Mean overnight low	9.3 °C	10.4 °C	9.3 to 16.1 °C

Observed Climate at Potong Tea Garden (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Potong Tea Garden’s coordinates recorded 2,294 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was August (644 mm) and the driest was December (10 mm). Daytime highs averaged 16.9 °C and overnight lows 9.3 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and February the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,294 mm
Wettest month	August (644 mm)
Driest month	December (10 mm)
Mean daily high	16.9 °C
Mean overnight low	9.3 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Potong Tea Garden located?

Potong Tea Garden is in Darjeeling, India, at coordinates 27.0416, 88.2664, at an elevation of about 2100 metres.

Who operates Potong Tea Garden?

Potong Tea Garden is operated by Potong Tea Garden, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Potong Tea Garden produce?

Potong Tea Garden is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Potong Tea Garden supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Potong Tea Garden as supplying Equal Exchange.

How much rain does Potong Tea Garden receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,294 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in August (644 mm).

How does Potong Tea Garden compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Potong Tea Garden recorded 2,294 mm in 2025, 43% more rain than the 1,606 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].