In short: Dehing Tea Estate is a black-tea producer in Golai No.4, Assam, India, operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd. and recorded as supplying Sainsbury's.
Dehing Tea Estate is a black-tea producer situated in Golai No.4, a tea-growing area in the Assam plains of north-eastern India. The estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., one of the largest tea producers in the country, and is recorded as supplying Sainsbury's, the British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 139 metres above sea level, Dehing occupies low-lying terrain typical of the Brahmaputra valley floor in Upper Assam. Estates at this elevation in the region generally experience warm, humid conditions year-round, with a pronounced monsoon season that tends to drive vigorous flush cycles. The combination of heat, moisture and alluvial soils characteristic of the valley floor typically encourages rapid leaf growth and high yield potential.
The latitude of approximately 27° North places Dehing in a subtropical zone where day-length variation is moderate and the growing season extends across much of the year. Assam estates at similar elevations often contend with intense summer heat and heavy rainfall, conditions that tend to favour the robust, malty character for which the region is known. The plains environment generally supports the large-leaf Assam varietal, though specific cultivar information for Dehing is not recorded.
Tea Produced
Dehing produces black tea, the dominant output of Assam's plains estates. Teas from gardens at this elevation in the region typically yield a full-bodied, malty cup with brisk astringency and deep amber liquor. The warm, humid growing conditions common to the valley floor tend to produce leaf that is well suited to CTC (crush, tear, curl) processing, which remains the standard for much of Assam's commodity-grade and blended tea. Estates in this part of Upper Assam often contribute to breakfast blends and mass-market retail lines, where strength and colour are valued.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Dehing is recorded as supplying Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This connection places the estate within the supply chain for own-label and branded retail tea sold in a major consumer market. Sainsbury's sources tea both directly and through agents for its range of black-tea products, and the fact that Dehing is named as a supplier suggests a degree of traceability in the retailer's sourcing—a feature increasingly expected by British consumers and civil-society organisations monitoring labour and environmental standards.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Mcleod Russel India Ltd. is the operator of Dehing Tea Estate. Once the world's largest private-sector tea producer by acreage, the company manages a portfolio of gardens concentrated in Assam and West Bengal. Mcleod Russel operates six other estates in our directory, reflecting the scale of its footprint in Indian tea. The company has in recent years undergone significant restructuring, including asset sales and management changes, as it navigates debt and shifting market dynamics in the global tea trade.
Certifications & Ethics
Dehing Tea Estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), a multi-stakeholder initiative that works to improve labour and environmental conditions across tea supply chains. ETP certification indicates that the estate has undergone monitoring and assessment against the partnership's standards, which cover issues including wages, working hours, health and safety, and pesticide use. For buyers such as Sainsbury's, ETP membership offers a framework for due diligence and supply-chain transparency, while for workers the certification is intended to support improved conditions and access to grievance mechanisms.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Dehing Tea Estate lies at 27.3212, 95.6484 in Golai No.4, India. Its 139 m elevation is the joint 113th highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Powai Tea Estate — 1.1 km away · Agbandha Bangali
- Margherita Tea Estate — 5.5 km away · Assam
- Pengaree — 8.4 km away · Assam
- Chamong Tea Estate, Namdang — 8.4 km away · Assam
- Dirok Tea Estate — 8.6 km away · Assam
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Dehing Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Dehing Tea Estate (139 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Dehing Tea Estate recorded 2,919 mm in 2025, 25% more than the 2,334 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMABARI | Assam, India | 139 m | 2,507 mm | 29.5 °C |
| Himara | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 138 m | 3,509 mm | 29.2 °C |
| Samukirana | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 138 m | 2,234 mm | 30.5 °C |
| Anhui Huangshan United Keemun Tea Co., Ltd. - Factory | Huangshan City, China | 137 m | 1,216 mm | 24.9 °C |
| Dejoo Tea Estate | Assam, India | 141 m | 2,202 mm | 28.9 °C |
Dehing Tea Estate Compared with India
In India, Dehing Tea Estate is wetter than 62% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 55% of the others by elevation; cooler than 58% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Dehing 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 | Dehing Tea Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 139 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,919 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.2 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.8 °C | 19.3 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Dehing Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Dehing Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,919 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (476 mm) and the driest was December (28 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.2 °C and overnight lows 18.8 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,919 mm |
| Wettest month | April (476 mm) |
| Driest month | December (28 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dehing Tea Estate located?
Dehing Tea Estate is in Golai No.4, India, at coordinates 27.3212, 95.6484, at an elevation of about 139 metres.
Who operates Dehing Tea Estate?
Dehing Tea Estate is operated by Mcleod Russel India Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Dehing Tea Estate produce?
Dehing Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Dehing Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Dehing Tea Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Dehing Tea Estate hold?
Dehing Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Dehing Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,919 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (476 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].
