In short: Carolyn Estate is a black tea producer in the Nilgiris-Wayanad region of Tamil Nadu, India, operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd. and known to supply Sainsbury's.
Carolyn Estate is a black tea producer located in the Nilgiris-Wayanad region of Tamil Nadu, India, at an elevation of 761 metres. The estate is operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd. and is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, the UK supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 761 metres above sea level, Carolyn Estate sits at a mid-elevation within the broader Nilgiris-Wayanad tea belt, where the Western Ghats influence local rainfall and temperature patterns. Estates at this altitude in southern India typically experience a more moderate climate than high-elevation counterparts, with temperatures that can encourage a relatively brisk growing cycle. The Nilgiris region generally receives the benefit of both the south-west and north-east monsoons, which tend to provide well-distributed rainfall across much of the year.
This elevation and latitude combination often supports consistent vegetative growth, though the intensity of flavour and leaf development can vary with seasonal temperature shifts. The red loams and lateritic soils common in the Nilgiris are generally well-draining, and estates in this zone typically produce leaf year-round, with quality peaks often coinciding with drier intervals between monsoon periods.
Tea Produced
Carolyn Estate produces black tea. The Nilgiris-Wayanad region at this elevation typically yields teas with a brisk, clean character and a medium body. Estates in this part of Tamil Nadu often produce leaf that is valued for blending, offering bright, rounded liquor without the pronounced astringency or intensity found in Assam or high-grown Ceylon teas. The cup profile is generally smooth, with mild fruit or floral notes, though specific character depends on processing and seasonal conditions.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Carolyn 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 for retail-branded tea, where consistency, traceability, and certification are typically key procurement criteria. Supply to a major UK grocer suggests that Carolyn Estate meets the volume, quality, and compliance standards required for large-scale retail distribution, and that its output is deemed suitable for blending or branded black tea lines marketed to mainstream consumers.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Carolyn Estate is operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd., a company with interests in agricultural production in southern India. Parry Agro Industries operates at least one other tea estate recorded in this directory, indicating a multi-estate portfolio in the region.
Certifications & Ethics
Carolyn Estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a membership organisation that works with tea producers on labour standards, environmental stewardship, and community welfare. For buyers, Ethical Tea Partnership certification provides assurance that the estate is subject to regular monitoring and improvement programmes focused on working conditions, pesticide use, and smallholder inclusion. For workers, membership typically implies access to grievance mechanisms and initiatives aimed at improving safety, wages, and housing standards on certified estates.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Carolyn Estate lies at 11.6994, 76.0773 in Nilgiris-Wayanad. Tamil Nadu, India. Its 761 m elevation is the 83rd highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Achoor Tea Estate — 14 km away · Via Pozhuthana
- Arrapetta Tea Estate — 17 km away · Meppadi
- Cherakara Tea Estate — 21 km away · Thalappuzha Police Station Rd
- Wentworth Tea Estate — 30 km away · Cherambadi
- Manjushree Tea Estate — 53 km away · O Valley
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Carolyn Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Carolyn Estate (761 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Carolyn Estate recorded 2,024 mm in 2025, 19% less than the 2,487 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xuan\u0027En Wutai Changchen Tea Industry Co., Ltd. | Enshi City, China | 760 m | 1,627 mm | 21.7 °C |
| Hapugastenne Plantations, Shawlands | Badulla District, Sri Lanka | 757 m | 2,890 mm | 27.6 °C |
| Aruna, Passara Tea Shakthi, Aruna Passara | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 756 m | 2,899 mm | 27.7 °C |
| Monteviot | West Bengal, India | 744 m | 1,859 mm | 24.2 °C |
| Shin-Yu-Min Co., Ltd. | Yuchi Township, Taiwan | 793 m | 3,160 mm | 24.1 °C |
Carolyn Estate Compared with India
In India, Carolyn Estate is drier than 83% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 67% of the others by elevation; cooler than 64% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Carolyn 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 | Carolyn Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 761 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,024 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 27.8 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.4 °C | 19.3 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Carolyn Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Carolyn Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,024 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (505 mm) and the driest was February (0 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.8 °C and overnight lows 18.4 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,024 mm |
| Wettest month | May (505 mm) |
| Driest month | February (0 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carolyn Estate located?
Carolyn Estate is in Nilgiris-Wayanad. Tamil Nadu, India, at coordinates 11.6994, 76.0773, at an elevation of about 761 metres.
Who operates Carolyn Estate?
Carolyn Estate is operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Carolyn Estate produce?
Carolyn Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Carolyn Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Carolyn Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Carolyn Estate hold?
Carolyn Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Carolyn Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,024 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (505 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].
