In short: Tukdah Tea Estate is a black tea producer in West Bengal, India, operated by Chamong Tee Exports Pvt. Ltd. and recorded as supplying Sainsbury's.
Tukdah Tea Estate is a black tea producer located in West Bengal, India, at an elevation of 1,504 metres. The estate is operated by Chamong Tee Exports Pvt. Ltd. and is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,504 metres above sea level and positioned at approximately 27°N latitude, Tukdah sits within an elevation band that typically experiences cooler ambient temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland gardens. Estates at this altitude in the eastern Himalayas generally benefit from mist cover and moderate rainfall distributed across the monsoon season, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and encourage the development of nuanced flavour precursors.
The interplay of altitude, latitude and topography in West Bengal's tea-growing districts generally supports a pronounced seasonal flush cycle. Higher-elevation gardens in this region often see their most prized harvests during the spring and early summer months, when cooler night temperatures and longer daylight hours typically favour the accumulation of polyphenols and volatile compounds in young shoots.
Tea Produced
As a producer of black tea, Tukdah processes leaf through full oxidation. Estates at this elevation in West Bengal typically yield teas with a balance of briskness and body, often showing floral or muscatel notes during the first and second flush periods. The cooler growing conditions associated with gardens above 1,500 metres tend to moderate astringency and support a smoother, more complex cup profile than teas from lower elevations in the same district.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Tukdah's recorded supply relationship with Sainsbury's places the estate within the procurement network of a major UK grocery retailer, which sources tea for both branded own-label lines and value-oriented everyday blends. This connection indicates that Tukdah's output meets the volume, consistency and audit standards required by large-scale supermarket buyers. Such supply arrangements typically involve third-party blenders and importers as intermediaries, though the estate's inclusion in Sainsbury's disclosed supplier lists suggests a degree of traceability valued by the retailer.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Chamong Tee Exports Pvt. Ltd., the operating company behind Tukdah, manages a portfolio of tea estates in the region. In addition to Tukdah, Chamong operates six other estates recorded in industry directories, positioning it as a significant producer within West Bengal's tea sector. Multi-estate operators of this scale typically maintain centralised quality control, processing infrastructure and market access, which can offer economies of scale in certification, logistics and buyer negotiations.
Certifications & Ethics
Tukdah Tea Estate holds membership in the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that requires adherence to standards covering labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship. For buyers, ETP certification provides independent assurance that the estate submits to regular monitoring against a defined code of practice. For workers, membership signals a commitment to grievance mechanisms, freedom of association and the progressive improvement of working and living conditions on the estate.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Tukdah Tea Estate lies at 27.0375, 88.3604 in West Bengal, India. Its 1504 m elevation is the 9th highest of 24 estates we map in West Bengal. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Namring Tea Estate — 3.5 km away · Darjeeling
- Teesta Valley Tea Estate — 5.4 km away · Dist
- Glenburn Tea Estate — 7.9 km away · Darjeeling
- Bannockburn Tea Estate — 8.7 km away
- Ging Tea Estate — 8.7 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Tukdah Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Tukdah Tea Estate (1,504 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Tukdah Tea Estate recorded 2,376 mm in 2025, 41% more than the 1,690 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kijura Tea Company | Western, Uganda | 1,502 m | 1,376 mm | 25.8 °C |
| Guderale | Kerala, India | 1,501 m | 3,791 mm | 21.6 °C |
| IKUMBI | THIKA, Kenya | 1,500 m | 956 mm | 25.1 °C |
| Thumaita | Kenya, Kenya | 1,499 m | 1,274 mm | 24.0 °C |
| RUKERI ORGANIC | B.P Kigali, Rwanda | 1,510 m | 1,053 mm | 26.3 °C |
Tukdah Tea Estate Compared with West Bengal
In West Bengal, Tukdah Tea Estate is drier than 61% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 65% of the others by elevation; cooler than 57% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Tukdah Tea Estate against the 23 other estates we map in West Bengal, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Tukdah Tea Estate | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,504 m | 1,324 m | 10 to 2,071 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,376 mm | 2,552 mm | 1,859 to 2,870 mm |
| Mean daily high | 20.7 °C | 21.0 °C | 17.1 to 31.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.3 °C | 14.0 °C | 9.5 to 22.7 °C |
Observed Climate at Tukdah Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Tukdah Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 2,376 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was August (677 mm) and the driest was December (0 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.7 °C and overnight lows 12.3 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,376 mm |
| Wettest month | August (677 mm) |
| Driest month | December (0 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 20.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tukdah Tea Estate located?
Tukdah Tea Estate is in West Bengal, India, at coordinates 27.0375, 88.3604, at an elevation of about 1504 metres.
Who operates Tukdah Tea Estate?
Tukdah Tea Estate is operated by Chamong Tee Exports Pvt. Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Tukdah Tea Estate produce?
Tukdah Tea Estate is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Tukdah Tea Estate supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Tukdah Tea Estate as supplying Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Tukdah Tea Estate hold?
Tukdah Tea Estate is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Tukdah Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,376 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in August (677 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].
