In short: Chamraj Tea Estate is a black tea producer in Tamil Nadu, India, operated by United Chanraj Group The United Nilgiri Tea Est. Co. and recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's.
Chamraj Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in Tamil Nadu, India, at an elevation of 1,863 metres. The estate is operated by United Chanraj Group The United Nilgiri Tea Est. Co. and is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, the major British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,863 metres above sea level, Chamraj occupies a high-elevation position in the Tamil Nadu tea lands. Estates at this altitude typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lower-lying gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf development and can contribute to a more concentrated flavour profile. The latitude of approximately 11°N places the estate in a tropical zone where the monsoon cycle generally shapes the growing calendar, with peak quality production often aligned to periods of moderate rainfall and dry intervals.
High-altitude gardens in this region are usually subject to mist and cloud cover, factors that tend to moderate direct sunlight and reduce evapotranspiration stress on the tea bushes. These conditions can favour the accumulation of certain polyphenols and amino acids in the leaf, though the precise expression of terroir depends on microclimate, soil composition, and cultivar—all of which vary considerably across individual estates.
Tea Produced
Chamraj produces black tea. Estates in the Nilgiris at comparable elevations typically yield teas with a brisk, clean cup character, often exhibiting bright, somewhat fruity or floral notes distinct from the maltier profiles of Assam or the muscatel character associated with Darjeeling. High-grown Nilgiri blacks tend to offer good colour and a certain aromatic lift, making them versatile for both blending and single-estate presentation. The style can vary with the season and processing method, but the general tendency is towards a medium-bodied infusion with a refreshing astringency.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Chamraj Tea 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 networks of mainstream British retail, where consistent quality, traceability, and volume capacity are typically essential. Supplying a major retailer of this scale suggests that Chamraj meets the standards and audit requirements common in UK food sourcing, and that its output is integrated into blends or own-label lines reaching a mass consumer base.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
The estate is operated by United Chanraj Group The United Nilgiri Tea Est. Co., a company that also operates at least one other tea estate recorded in our directory. Multi-estate operators of this kind often benefit from economies of scale in processing, marketing, and compliance, and may coordinate production across their holdings to meet varied buyer specifications and manage risk across different microclimates and elevations.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Chamraj Tea Estate lies at 11.2991, 76.6796 in Tamil Nadu, India. Its 1863 m elevation is the 7th highest of 11 estates we map in Tamil Nadu. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Welbeck Tea Estate — 8.6 km away
- Thiashola Tea Estate — 11 km away
- Parkside Tea Estate — 12 km away · Coonoor
- Glenworth Tea Estate — 12 km away · The Nilgiris
- Glenfern Estate — 13 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Chamraj Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Chamraj Tea Estate (1,863 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Chamraj Tea Estate recorded 2,112 mm in 2025, 24% less than the 2,771 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalaargold Tea Estate | Kannan Devan Hills, India | 1,864 m | 2,995 mm | 20.4 °C |
| Luckyland Tea Estate | Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd, Sri Lanka | 1,865 m | 3,152 mm | 19.6 °C |
| Sedep Tea Estate | WEST JAVA, Indonesia | 1,859 m | 3,309 mm | 20.0 °C |
| Mbogo Tea Factory | Kimatkei - Mbogo Valley Rd, Kenya | 1,868 m | 2,044 mm | 23.4 °C |
| Pfunda Tea Factory | Rubavu, Rwanda | 1,868 m | 2,357 mm | 21.7 °C |
Chamraj Tea Estate Compared with Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Chamraj Tea Estate is wetter than 70% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 60% of the others by elevation; warmer than 50% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Chamraj Tea Estate against the 10 other estates we map in Tamil Nadu, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Chamraj Tea Estate | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,863 m | 1,908 m | 415 to 2,247 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,112 mm | 1,557 mm | 798 to 3,631 mm |
| Mean daily high | 20.4 °C | 20.4 °C | 18.2 to 32.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.1 °C | 13.1 °C | 10.9 to 21.7 °C |
Observed Climate at Chamraj Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Chamraj Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,112 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (507 mm) and the driest was February (10 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.4 °C and overnight lows 13.1 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,112 mm |
| Wettest month | May (507 mm) |
| Driest month | February (10 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 20.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.1 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chamraj Tea Estate located?
Chamraj Tea Estate is in Tamil Nadu, India, at coordinates 11.2991, 76.6796, at an elevation of about 1863 metres.
Who operates Chamraj Tea Estate?
Chamraj Tea Estate is operated by United Chanraj Group The United Nilgiri Tea Est. Co., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Chamraj Tea Estate produce?
Chamraj Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Chamraj Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Chamraj Tea Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
How much rain does Chamraj Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,112 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (507 mm).
How does Chamraj Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Chamraj Tea Estate recorded 2,112 mm in 2025, 24% less rain than the 2,771 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].
