In short: Yellapatty Tea Estate is a black tea producer in Kerala, India, operated by KDHP and recorded as a supplier to Morrisons.
Yellapatty Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in Kerala, India, at an elevation of 1,805 metres. The estate is operated by KDHP, a company that also manages at least one other tea estate recorded in commercial directories. Yellapatty is known to supply Morrisons, the UK supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,805 metres, Yellapatty sits well within the high-elevation band of the Western Ghats, where cooler temperatures and diurnal variation typically slow leaf maturation. Estates at this altitude in Kerala generally benefit from the southwest monsoon between June and September, with mist and cloud cover moderating sunlight exposure during peak growing periods. These conditions tend to encourage slower, more gradual development of the tea flush.
The combination of elevation, latitude close to 10°N, and the maritime influence of the Arabian Sea generally supports year-round cultivation, though the intensity of growth fluctuates with the monsoon cycle. High-grown Kerala teas from this elevation band often develop a balance between briskness and body, though specific leaf character depends on clone selection, plucking standards, and processing regimen—none of which are documented for this estate.
Tea Produced
Yellapatty produces black tea. Estates in this elevation range in Kerala typically yield teas with moderate astringency, a rounded body, and a clean, bright liquor. High-grown character in this region often presents with less overt maltiness than Assam teas and a lighter profile than mid-elevation Ceylon types, though cup quality varies widely depending on manufacturing practice and seasonal conditions. Without specific production or sensory data for Yellapatty, any further descriptors would be speculative.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Yellapatty is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the UK's largest supermarket chains. This relationship indicates that at least a portion of the estate's output enters the retail own-label segment, a channel that prioritises consistency, food-safety compliance, and competitive pricing. Supply to a major British retailer suggests the estate meets the quality assurance and traceability expectations typical of that market, though the volume and exclusivity of the arrangement are not documented.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
The estate is operated by KDHP, a company that manages at least one other tea property recorded in industry directories. This indicates a degree of scale and operational experience, though further details of KDHP's corporate structure, total acreage under management, or strategic focus are not available in the verified data.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Yellapatty Tea Estate lies at 10.1267, 77.2035 in Dist. Kerala, India. Its 1805 m elevation is the 26th highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Arivikad — 5.4 km away · Kerala
- CHUNDAVURRAI — 6.1 km away · Kannan Devan Hills
- Harrisons Malayalam Ltd. — 9.0 km away · Suryanelli
- Surianalle Tea Estate, Idukki — 9.0 km away · Suryanelli
- Madupatty Tea Estate — 9.6 km away · Mattupetty
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Yellapatty Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Yellapatty Tea Estate (1,805 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Yellapatty Tea Estate recorded 2,094 mm in 2025, 38% more than the 1,520 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHANGOI | 124- Cheborge, Kenya | 1,803 m | 1,021 mm | 25.1 °C |
| Coonoor Tea Estate | Yedapalli, India | 1,802 m | 1,467 mm | 20.1 °C |
| Uganda Tea Development Agency Ltd, Igara | Central, Uganda | 1,808 m | 1,396 mm | 23.1 °C |
| Momul Tea Factory | Kaplelwo, Kenya | 1,811 m | 1,558 mm | 24.7 °C |
| Jun Chiyabari Tea Garden | Dhankuta Municipality Ward No 1, Nepal | 1,786 m | 2,160 mm | 19.4 °C |
Yellapatty Tea Estate Compared with India
In India, Yellapatty Tea Estate is drier than 83% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 90% of the others by elevation; cooler than 84% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Yellapatty 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 | Yellapatty Tea Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,805 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,094 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 20.9 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.6 °C | 19.3 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Yellapatty Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Yellapatty Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,094 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (431 mm) and the driest was February (17 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.9 °C and overnight lows 12.6 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,094 mm |
| Wettest month | May (431 mm) |
| Driest month | February (17 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 20.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Yellapatty Tea Estate located?
Yellapatty Tea Estate is in Dist. Kerala, India, at coordinates 10.1267, 77.2035, at an elevation of about 1805 metres.
Who operates Yellapatty Tea Estate?
Yellapatty Tea Estate is operated by KDHP, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Yellapatty Tea Estate produce?
Yellapatty Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Yellapatty Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Yellapatty Tea Estate as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does Yellapatty Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,094 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (431 mm).
How does Yellapatty Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Yellapatty Tea Estate recorded 2,094 mm in 2025, 38% more rain than the 1,520 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].
