Glenfern Estate

Glenfern Estate is a tea plantation located in Tamil Nadu, India, at an altitude of 2,247 metres. The estate is operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd. and produces black tea. It is recorded as supplying Sainsbury's, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,247 metres, Glenfern Estate sits in the high-elevation tier of Tamil Nadu's tea-growing districts. Estates at this altitude in southern India typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lower-lying gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf development and can encourage the accumulation of aromatic compounds. The location at approximately 11.4° north places the estate in a tropical latitude where monsoon patterns generally define the growing calendar.

High-elevation sites in Tamil Nadu often benefit from afternoon mist and cloud cover, factors that can moderate direct sunlight and reduce stress on the tea bushes. These conditions typically support a growing environment in which leaf texture is finer and plucking cycles may be extended relative to lower estates. The interplay of altitude, rainfall distribution, and temperature range tends to shape both the agronomic rhythms and the chemical profile of the leaf harvested.

Tea Produced

Glenfern Estate produces black tea. High-elevation estates in Tamil Nadu generally yield teas with a brisk, bright character, often marked by a clean astringency and moderate body. The cooler temperatures and slower growth cycles typical of gardens above 2,000 metres can contribute to a more nuanced flavour profile, sometimes displaying floral or lightly fruity notes alongside the malty or brisk base common to South Indian blacks. The cup profile tends to reflect the cooler microclimate, though individual manufacturing methods and plucking standards will influence the final character.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Glenfern Estate is recorded as supplying Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This connection places the estate within the supply chain for branded and own-label teas destined for the British retail market, a segment that demands consistent quality, traceability, and often third-party certification. The relationship suggests that Glenfern's output meets the volume, quality, and compliance standards required by large-scale grocery retail, and that the estate's production is integrated into blends or single-origin lines distributed across Sainsbury's store network.

• Recorded supplier to  Sainsbury's

Operator

Glenfern Estate is operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd., a company active in tea production and agriculture. Parry Agro Industries Ltd. operates at least one other estate recorded in our directory, indicating a multi-site portfolio in the Indian tea sector. This operational scale can facilitate shared agronomic expertise, centralized processing and quality control, and coordinated engagement with buyers and certification bodies.

Certifications & Ethics

Glenfern Estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a membership organisation that promotes improved working and environmental conditions on tea estates. Ethical Tea Partnership certification involves regular audits against standards covering labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship. For buyers, the certification offers third-party assurance that the estate is working toward compliance with responsible sourcing criteria; for workers, it signals a framework intended to support fair treatment, safe working conditions, and access to grievance mechanisms.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Glenfern Estate lies at 11.4136, 76.7025 in Tamil Nadu, India. Its 2247 m elevation is the joint 1st 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 — 4.6 km away
• DUNSANDLE ESTATE — 8.8 km away
• Tea Studio — 12 km away · Kattabettu
• Chamraj Tea Estate — 13 km away
• Glenworth Tea Estate — 13 km away · The Nilgiris

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Glenfern Estate

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Glenfern Estate (2,247 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Glenfern Estate recorded 1,531 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 1,476 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
Kisyet Tea Limited	Bomet, Kenya	2,244 m	1,336 mm	21.4 °C
LASIT	Subukia, Kenya	2,234 m	1,326 mm	21.9 °C
RWEGURA	Kayanza, Burundi	2,217 m	1,477 mm	20.4 °C
CHUNDAVURRAI	Kannan Devan Hills, India	2,299 m	2,094 mm	17.9 °C
Werraka	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	2,302 m	1,148 mm	22.6 °C

Glenfern Estate Compared with Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, Glenfern Estate is drier than 60% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 90% of the others by elevation; cooler than 80% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Glenfern 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	Glenfern Estate	Region median	Region range
Elevation	2,247 m	1,870 m	415 to 2,247 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,531 mm	1,762 mm	798 to 3,631 mm
Mean daily high	19.3 °C	20.4 °C	18.2 to 32.2 °C
Mean overnight low	11.9 °C	13.2 °C	10.9 to 21.7 °C

Observed Climate at Glenfern Estate (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Glenfern Estate’s coordinates recorded 1,531 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (336 mm) and the driest was February (5 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.3 °C and overnight lows 11.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and December the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,531 mm
Wettest month	May (336 mm)
Driest month	February (5 mm)
Mean daily high	19.3 °C
Mean overnight low	11.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Glenfern Estate located?

Glenfern Estate is in Tamil Nadu, India, at coordinates 11.4136, 76.7025, at an elevation of about 2247 metres.

Who operates Glenfern Estate?

Glenfern Estate is operated by Parry Agro Industries Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Glenfern Estate produce?

Glenfern Estate is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Glenfern Estate supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Glenfern Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.

What certifications does Glenfern Estate hold?

Glenfern Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does Glenfern Estate receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,531 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (336 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].