In short: Letchmi Super Tea Estate is a black tea producer situated at 1,418 metres in the Kannan Devan Hills of India, operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantation Pvt. Ltd.
Letchmi Super Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in the Kannan Devan Hills of southern India, at an elevation of 1,418 metres. The estate is operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantation Pvt. Ltd., a company that manages multiple tea properties in the region. The estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,418 metres above sea level, Letchmi Super occupies a mid-to-high elevation band in the Kannan Devan Hills, a district that sits within the Western Ghats range in Kerala. Estates at this altitude typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland sites, factors that tend to slow leaf maturation and can contribute to more nuanced biochemical development in the flush. The latitude—just over ten degrees north—places the estate in a tropical zone where monsoon patterns generally shape two principal cropping windows each year.
The Western Ghats are recognised for high rainfall and persistent cloud cover during the south-west monsoon, conditions that often sustain active growth through much of the year. Soils in this terrain are typically lateritic and acidic, a profile common to high-rainfall tropical uplands, and estates in the region often rely on natural drainage provided by steep topography. These environmental factors collectively tend to favour tea cultivars adapted to consistent moisture and moderate temperatures.
Tea Produced
Letchmi Super produces black tea. Estates in the Kannan Devan Hills at similar elevations generally yield teas with brisk, full-bodied character and a smooth maltiness, often accompanied by moderate astringency. The mid-elevation growing environment tends to produce leaf that develops good colour and strength in the cup, qualities that are typically valued in both blending and single-origin offerings. Seasonal variation in rainfall and temperature can influence flavour intensity, with cooler, drier periods often associated with more concentrated cup profiles.
Operator
Kanan Devan Hills Plantation Pvt. Ltd. operates Letchmi Super and is recorded as the managing company for six other estates in this directory. The firm oversees a network of tea properties across the Kannan Devan Hills, a concentration that reflects its standing as one of the region's established plantation operators. Multi-estate operators of this scale typically maintain centralised processing and quality-control infrastructure, which can support standardisation across their portfolio and provide economies of scale in procurement and logistics.
Certifications & Ethics
Letchmi Super holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, an industry body that sets standards for labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship on tea estates. ETP certification requires regular third-party audits covering worker welfare, housing, access to education and healthcare, and responsible pesticide use. For buyers, the certification offers a degree of assurance that baseline social and environmental criteria are being monitored; for workers, it is intended to underpin enforceable minimum conditions and grievance mechanisms on certified estates.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Letchmi Super Tea Estate lies at 10.0913, 77.0119 in Kannan Devan Hills, India. Its 1418 m elevation is the 55th highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Guderale — 5.0 km away · Kerala
- Kadalaar — 5.2 km away · munnar kadalaar divison
- Viriparai Super Tea Estate — 5.4 km away · Munnar
- Kalaar I — 6.3 km away · Kerala
- Chokanad Tea Estate — 7.9 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Letchmi Super Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Letchmi Super Tea Estate (1,418 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Letchmi Super Tea Estate recorded 3,791 mm in 2025, 89% more than the 2,001 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayonza | Ntungamo, Uganda | 1,416 m | 1,045 mm | 26.7 °C |
| MABAYI | Cibitoke, Burundi | 1,413 m | 1,972 mm | 24.5 °C |
| Rwanda Mountain Tea | KG 438 St, Rwanda | 1,413 m | 1,053 mm | 26.3 °C |
| Idalgasshinna Tea Estate | District -Badulla, Sri Lanka | 1,413 m | 2,188 mm | 23.1 °C |
| Talawakelle Plantations, Mattakelle | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,410 m | 3,746 mm | 21.9 °C |
Letchmi Super Tea Estate Compared with India
In India, Letchmi Super Tea Estate is wetter than 95% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 78% of the others by elevation; cooler than 76% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Letchmi Super 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 | Letchmi Super Tea Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,418 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,791 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.3 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.2 °C | 19.3 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Letchmi Super Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Letchmi Super Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 3,791 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (825 mm) and the driest was February (16 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.3 °C and overnight lows 15.2 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,791 mm |
| Wettest month | May (825 mm) |
| Driest month | February (16 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Letchmi Super Tea Estate located?
Letchmi Super Tea Estate is in Kannan Devan Hills, India, at coordinates 10.0913, 77.0119, at an elevation of about 1418 metres.
Who operates Letchmi Super Tea Estate?
Letchmi Super Tea Estate is operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantation Pvt. Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Letchmi Super Tea Estate produce?
Letchmi Super Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
What certifications does Letchmi Super Tea Estate hold?
Letchmi Super Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Letchmi Super Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,791 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (825 mm).
How does Letchmi Super Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Letchmi Super Tea Estate recorded 3,791 mm in 2025, 89% more rain than the 2,001 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].
