In short: Arivikad is a black-tea estate in Kerala, India, operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (KDHP) at an elevation of 1,646 metres and known to supply Morrisons.
Arivikad is a tea estate in Kerala, India, situated at an elevation of 1,646 metres. It is operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (KDHP), one of the state's established tea producers. The estate is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, the British supermarket chain, and its output is focused on black tea.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,646 metres, Arivikad occupies a high-elevation site within Kerala's tea-growing belt. Estates at this altitude typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than those at lower elevations, conditions that tend to slow the growth cycle and allow for greater accumulation of flavour compounds in the leaf. The latitude—around 10° N—places the estate in a tropical zone where monsoon patterns generally define the rhythm of flush and dormancy, though elevation moderates the intensity of heat.
High-grown Kerala teas often benefit from mist cover and well-distributed rainfall, factors that can contribute to a more nuanced cup profile. The cooler night temperatures common at this altitude tend to preserve volatile aromatics in the leaf, while the intensity of sunlight at elevation typically promotes robust secondary-metabolite development. These are general tendencies of the zone; specific soil composition, aspect, and microclimate will further shape the character of leaf produced at Arivikad.
Tea Produced
Arivikad produces black tea. High-elevation black teas from Kerala typically exhibit a balance between briskness and body, often with moderate astringency and a clean, bright liquor. Estates at this altitude in the region tend to yield teas with good colour and a cup character that can range from malty to gently floral, depending on the season and processing style. The slower leaf maturation associated with cooler growing conditions generally supports a more structured flavour profile, though the precise character will vary with each production batch.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Arivikad is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, indicating its integration into the UK retail supply chain. Morrisons sources tea for own-label products and branded lines, and supply relationships of this kind typically involve compliance with retailer specifications on quality, traceability, and consistency of volume. The presence of a major British supermarket among Arivikad's recorded buyers suggests that the estate produces tea suited to the standardised blends and single-origin offerings that characterise the UK everyday-tea segment.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
Arivikad is operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (KDHP), a significant player in South Indian tea production. KDHP is a producer-owned enterprise with a portfolio spanning some of Kerala's well-regarded high-elevation tea lands. The company operates five other estates recorded in our directory, reflecting a scale of operation that supports consolidated processing, quality control, and market access across its holdings.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Arivikad lies at 10.1106, 77.1566 in Kerala, India. Its 1646 m elevation is the 3rd highest of 8 estates we map in Kerala. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Madupatty Tea Estate — 4.2 km away · Mattupetty
- Yellapatty Tea Estate — 5.4 km away · Dist. Kerala
- Devikulam — 7.2 km away
- Lockhart Tea Estate — 8.2 km away · Devicolam Idukki
- Letchmi — 8.2 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Arivikad
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Arivikad (1,646 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Arivikad recorded 2,773 mm in 2025, 86% more than the 1,490 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mwenge | Ankole. District: Bushenyi Area, Uganda | 1,644 m | 1,399 mm | 25.3 °C |
| Kenya Tea Development Agency, Nyansiongo | Kisii, Kenya | 1,652 m | 1,526 mm | 25.1 °C |
| Njeru Tea Factory | Meru-Nairobi Highway, Kenya | 1,657 m | 890 mm | 22.8 °C |
| Global Village Tea Company Ltd. | Western, Uganda | 1,635 m | 1,399 mm | 25.3 °C |
| Himalayan Shangri-La | Mechi Hwy, Nepal | 1,661 m | 2,238 mm | 18.2 °C |
Arivikad Compared with Kerala
In Kerala, Arivikad is the driest of the 8 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 71% of the others by elevation; cooler than 71% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Arivikad against the 7 other estates we map in Kerala, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Arivikad | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,646 m | 1,593 m | 1,088 to 1,972 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,773 mm | 3,791 mm | 2,773 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 21.3 °C | 21.6 °C | 19.7 to 23.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.5 °C | 14.3 °C | 11.9 to 16.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Arivikad (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Arivikad’s coordinates recorded 2,773 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (596 mm) and the driest was February (23 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.3 °C and overnight lows 13.5 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,773 mm |
| Wettest month | May (596 mm) |
| Driest month | February (23 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 21.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Arivikad located?
Arivikad is in Kerala, India, at coordinates 10.1106, 77.1566, at an elevation of about 1646 metres.
Who operates Arivikad?
Arivikad is operated by Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (KDHP), according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Arivikad produce?
Arivikad is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Arivikad supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Arivikad as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does Arivikad receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,773 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (596 mm).
How does Arivikad compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Arivikad recorded 2,773 mm in 2025, 86% more rain than the 1,490 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].