In short: Samdang Tea Estate is a black-tea producer in the Samdang division of Assam, India, operated by M.K. Shah Exports Ltd., which manages six other estates in the directory.
Samdang Tea Estate is a black-tea producer located in the Samdang T.E.48 Fs. C division of Assam, India, at an elevation of 132 metres. The estate is operated by M.K. Shah Exports Ltd., a company that manages a portfolio of seven estates in the region, including this property. The estate is certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership, though no buyer relationships are currently recorded in publicly available supply-chain data.
Terroir & Climate
At 132 metres above sea level in the Brahmaputra valley, Samdang occupies one of the lower-elevation zones typical of Assam's commercial tea belt. Estates at this latitude and altitude generally experience a warm, humid subtropical climate with significant monsoon rainfall between May and September, conditions that tend to favour vigorous vegetative growth and rapid leaf turnover. The valley's alluvial soils, combined with year-round warmth, typically support continuous plucking across much of the calendar, though many producers observe a winter dormancy or reduced flush.
Assam estates at this elevation often produce higher yields per hectare than their high-altitude counterparts in Darjeeling or Nilgiri, and the climate tends to encourage a leaf chemistry rich in polyphenols and relatively lower amino-acid concentrations. The long growing season and ample moisture generally result in robust, well-developed shoots, though the character of each flush—first, second, and monsoon—can vary markedly depending on rainfall patterns and temperature fluctuations during the plucking window.
Tea Produced
Samdang produces black tea, the dominant manufactured style across Assam's lowland estates. Teas from this elevation and region typically yield a full-bodied, malty cup with pronounced astringency and a deep amber to reddish liquor. Assam orthodox blacks often show notes of malt, dried fruit, and a characteristic briskness, while CTC production—widely practised at similar elevations—tends to deliver a stronger, more pungent infusion favoured in blended breakfast teas and for trade on the domestic auction. The specific manufacturing protocols and seasonal plucking at Samdang will shape the final cup, but the terroir generally supports teas with body and colour rather than the floral or muscatel aromatics associated with higher, cooler-climate gardens.
Operator
M.K. Shah Exports Ltd. operates Samdang alongside six other tea estates recorded in the directory, positioning the company as a regional operator with a diversified estate portfolio in Assam. Multi-estate operators of this scale typically benefit from aggregated processing, blending, and logistics infrastructure, and often supply both domestic auction markets and international buyers through direct contracts. The operator's footprint suggests a vertically integrated model common among mid-sized Assam producers, though the specific supply arrangements and end markets for Samdang's output are not publicly documented.
Certifications & Ethics
Samdang Tea Estate holds Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) certification, a multi-stakeholder initiative that sets standards for labour rights, working conditions, and environmental stewardship on tea farms. ETP certification requires estates to meet benchmarks on issues including freedom of association, safe working conditions, fair wages, and responsible pesticide use, with periodic third-party audits. For buyers, ETP membership signals a commitment to baseline ethical compliance and continuous improvement, and for workers it establishes a framework of rights and grievance mechanisms, though the effectiveness of implementation depends on consistent monitoring and enforcement at estate level.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Samdang Tea Estate lies at 27.5260, 95.5557 in Samdang T.E.48 Fs. C, India. Its 132 m elevation is the joint 116th highest of 250 estates we map in India. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Raidang-D Tea Estate — 2.9 km away · Raidang T.E. 122 Fs.Gt
- Raidang Tea Estate — 4.4 km away · Mulan Pathar Gaon
- BUDLABETA — 5.5 km away · Assam
- Hokonguri — 7.9 km away · Assam
- HAPJAN — 9.4 km away · Assam
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Samdang Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Samdang Tea Estate (132 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Samdang Tea Estate recorded 2,874 mm in 2025, 12% more than the 2,565 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koomber | Kumbhir, India | 132 m | 3,190 mm | 29.7 °C |
| Borpatra Tea Estate | Borpatra Tea Estate, India | 131 m | 2,784 mm | 28.4 °C |
| Co, Op Cola | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 130 m | 2,624 mm | 29.9 °C |
| Thammenna | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 129 m | 2,624 mm | 29.9 °C |
| Zhejiang Wuyi Tea Base | P.R, China | 128 m | 1,604 mm | 24.6 °C |
Samdang Tea Estate Compared with India
In India, Samdang Tea Estate is wetter than 60% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 53% of the others by elevation; cooler than 61% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Samdang 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 | Samdang Tea Estate | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 132 m | 126 m | 6 to 2,299 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,874 mm | 2,778 mm | 745 to 4,774 mm |
| Mean daily high | 28.1 °C | 28.3 °C | 16.9 to 34.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.2 °C | 19.3 °C | 9.3 to 24.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Samdang Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Samdang Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,874 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (465 mm) and the driest was December (11 mm). Daytime highs averaged 28.1 °C and overnight lows 19.2 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,874 mm |
| Wettest month | April (465 mm) |
| Driest month | December (11 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 28.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 19.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Samdang Tea Estate located?
Samdang Tea Estate is in Samdang T.E.48 Fs. C, India, at coordinates 27.5260, 95.5557, at an elevation of about 132 metres.
Who operates Samdang Tea Estate?
Samdang Tea Estate is operated by M.K. Shah Exports Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Samdang Tea Estate produce?
Samdang Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
What certifications does Samdang Tea Estate hold?
Samdang Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Samdang Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,874 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (465 mm).
How does Samdang Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Samdang Tea Estate recorded 2,874 mm in 2025, 12% more rain than the 2,565 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].
