In short: Paneery Tea Estate is a black-tea producer in Darrang district, Assam, operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd. and known to supply Sainsbury's.
Paneery Tea Estate is a black-tea producer located in Darrang district, in the state of Assam, India. The estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., historically one of the largest tea-plantation companies in the world. Paneery is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, the major British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
Paneery is situated at approximately 105 metres above sea level in the plains of Darrang, well within the low-elevation alluvial zone that characterises much of Assam's tea-growing country. Estates at this altitude typically experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with the Brahmaputra river system contributing to fertile, sediment-rich soils. The latitude of approximately 26.7°N places the estate firmly in the tropical monsoon belt, where the south-west monsoon generally delivers heavy rainfall from May to September, driving vigorous flush cycles.
At such low elevations, diurnal temperature variation is modest, and growing conditions tend to favour rapid leaf growth and high yield rather than the slower maturation associated with high-altitude gardens. The warm, moisture-laden environment typically supports continuous cropping across much of the year, with estates in this zone often producing the bold, malty Assam character for which the region is known globally.
Tea Produced
Paneery produces black tea. Estates in the Darrang plains at this elevation typically yield full-bodied, brisk liquors with the robust malty sweetness and coppery brightness characteristic of lowland Assam manufacture. Such teas are often valued by blenders for their strength and colour, qualities well-suited to breakfast blends and mass-market products where consistency and body are paramount.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Paneery's recorded supply relationship with Sainsbury's positions the estate within the supply chain of one of the United Kingdom's largest grocery retailers. Sainsbury's sources tea for its own-label range, which includes both everyday black-tea bags and selected speciality lines. This connection suggests that Paneery's output meets the volume, consistency and audit standards required by major European supermarket buyers, reflecting the estate's integration into established commodity and retail-supply networks for Assam black tea.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Mcleod Russel India Ltd. operates Paneery Tea Estate. At its height, Mcleod Russel was the world's largest tea producer by volume, managing an extensive portfolio of estates across Assam, West Bengal and in other tea-growing regions. The company operates six other estates recorded in this directory, underlining its continued significance in the Indian tea sector despite financial restructuring in recent years. Ownership and management structures within the group have evolved, but the Mcleod Russel name remains associated with large-scale plantation cultivation and established supply relationships with international buyers.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Paneery Tea Estate lies at 26.7180, 91.9173 in Darrang, India. Its 105 m elevation is the joint 173rd highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Nonaipara Tea Estate — 1.5 km away · Assam
- MAJULI — 6.5 km away · Assam
- Mcleod Russel India Ltd, Bhooteachang Tea Factory — 8.6 km away · Assam
- Borengajuli Tea Estate — 11 km away
- Orangajuli Tea Estate — 13 km away · Assam;
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Paneery Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Paneery Tea Estate (105 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Paneery Tea Estate recorded 2,135 mm in 2025, 18% less than the 2,611 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borbam Tea Estate | Assam, India | 105 m | 2,573 mm | 28.4 °C |
| Khowang Tea Estate | Assam, India | 105 m | 2,922 mm | 28.4 °C |
| Dellawa | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 104 m | 3,051 mm | 29.3 °C |
| Cili Yunwuwang Tea Co,. Ltd. | Hunan Province, China | 103 m | 1,314 mm | 23.8 °C |
| Lucky Kottawa | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 103 m | 3,195 mm | 29.6 °C |
Paneery Tea Estate Compared with India
In India, Paneery Tea Estate is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 70% of the others by elevation; warmer than 89% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Paneery Tea Estate against the 249 other estates we map in India, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Paneery Tea Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 105 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,135 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 29.8 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.3 °C | 19.2 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Paneery Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Paneery Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,135 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (620 mm) and the driest was December (0 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.8 °C and overnight lows 20.3 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,135 mm |
| Wettest month | May (620 mm) |
| Driest month | December (0 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 29.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 20.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Paneery Tea Estate located?
Paneery Tea Estate is in Darrang, India, at coordinates 26.7180, 91.9173, at an elevation of about 105 metres.
Who operates Paneery Tea Estate?
Paneery Tea Estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Paneery Tea Estate produce?
Paneery Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Paneery Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Paneery Tea Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
How much rain does Paneery Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,135 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (620 mm).
How does Paneery Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Paneery Tea Estate recorded 2,135 mm in 2025, 18% less rain than the 2,611 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].
