In short: Warwick Estate is a black tea producer in Kotagiri, India, operated by Havukal Tea And Produce Company Private. Ltd. and known to supply Sainsbury's.
Warwick Estate is a tea producer located in Kotagiri, in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, India. The estate operates at an elevation of 1,927 metres and is managed by Havukal Tea And Produce Company Private. Ltd. It is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, the British supermarket chain, and produces black tea.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,927 metres, Warwick Estate sits well within the high-elevation band of the Nilgiri plateau. Estates at this altitude in southern India typically experience a moderated tropical climate, with cooler temperatures than the lowlands and significant diurnal variation. These conditions generally slow the growth cycle, allowing more gradual accumulation of compounds in the leaf. The Kotagiri area, positioned on the northern slopes of the Nilgiris, tends to receive both south-west and north-east monsoon rainfall, which can support multiple flush periods across the year.
High-altitude Nilgiri gardens often benefit from mist cover and consistent moisture, factors that usually contribute to a more delicate leaf structure compared to lower-grown teas. The elevation and latitude together tend to produce a growing environment where the tea plant experiences less stress from extreme heat, a characteristic that is often reflected in the cup. Soil composition in the Nilgiris is typically lateritic, though specific soil management practices vary by estate.
Tea Produced
Warwick Estate produces black tea. Nilgiri blacks from high-elevation estates such as this typically yield a bright, brisk cup with a clean profile. Teas from the Kotagiri area are often noted for their aromatic quality and relatively light body compared to Assam or even some Darjeeling autumnal productions. Depending on the season and processing, high-grown Nilgiri blacks can display floral or fruity notes, with a smoothness that tends to make them well-suited to blending or to consumption without milk. The cooler temperatures at this altitude generally support a more nuanced flavour development.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Warwick Estate is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain of a major British retailer that sources tea for both own-label and branded products. Supplying a retailer of Sainsbury's scale typically requires adherence to specific quality standards, traceability protocols, and social compliance benchmarks. The connection suggests that Warwick's production is oriented, at least in part, toward the UK retail market, where Nilgiri teas are frequently used in everyday blends valued for consistency and approachability.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Warwick Estate is operated by Havukal Tea And Produce Company Private. Ltd., which also manages at least one other tea estate recorded in industry directories. Multi-estate operators in the Nilgiris often benefit from shared processing infrastructure, aggregated logistics, and consolidated compliance and certification management, though the degree of integration varies by company. Havukal's presence in the region indicates an established operational footprint in the southern Indian tea sector.
Certifications & Ethics
Warwick Estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), a member-driven initiative focused on improving working conditions and environmental practices across tea supply chains. ETP certification involves independent monitoring against standards covering labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship. For buyers, it offers a degree of assurance that the estate is subject to regular third-party assessment; for workers, the framework is designed to support safer conditions, fair treatment, and channels for grievance resolution.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Warwick Estate lies at 11.4294, 76.8745 in Kotagiri, India. Its 1927 m elevation is the 19th highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Glendale Estate — 1.3 km away · Coonoor
- Havukal Estate — 1.6 km away
- Kotada Tea Estate — 1.6 km away
- Burnside Tea Estate — 1.9 km away · Tamil Nadu
- Kilkotagiri — 7.0 km away · Tamil Nadu
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Warwick Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Warwick Estate (1,927 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Warwick Estate recorded 1,459 mm in 2025, 32% less than the 2,145 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Udapussellawa Plantations, Court Lodge | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,924 m | 2,798 mm | 19.1 °C |
| KAPKATET | Moi Avenue, Kenya | 1,922 m | 1,984 mm | 22.4 °C |
| Kapset Tea Factory | Chepseon Boito-Kapset Rd Kipkelion, Kenya | 1,935 m | 1,535 mm | 23.4 °C |
| Orange Valley Tea Estate | Darjeeling, India | 1,936 m | 2,294 mm | 18.0 °C |
| Thiashola Tea Estate | Tamil Nadu, India | 1,941 m | 2,112 mm | 19.9 °C |
Warwick Estate Compared with India
In India, Warwick Estate is drier than 98% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 93% of the others by elevation; cooler than 91% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Warwick 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 | Warwick Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,927 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,459 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 19.9 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.0 °C | 19.3 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Warwick Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Warwick Estate’s coordinates recorded 1,459 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (241 mm) and the driest was February (2 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.9 °C and overnight lows 13.0 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,459 mm |
| Wettest month | May (241 mm) |
| Driest month | February (2 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 19.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Warwick Estate located?
Warwick Estate is in Kotagiri, India, at coordinates 11.4294, 76.8745, at an elevation of about 1927 metres.
Who operates Warwick Estate?
Warwick Estate is operated by Havukal Tea And Produce Company Private. Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Warwick Estate produce?
Warwick Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Warwick Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Warwick Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Warwick Estate hold?
Warwick Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Warwick Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,459 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (241 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].
