Kayu Aro

Kayu Aro is a tea estate located in the Jambi region of Indonesia, at an elevation of approximately 23 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantra VI, one of Indonesia's state-owned plantation enterprises. It is recorded as supplying the British supermarket chain Morrisons and produces both black and green teas.

Terroir & Climate

At just 23 metres above sea level, Kayu Aro occupies an unusually low elevation for a tea-producing estate. Tea grown at sea level or near-coastal altitudes in equatorial latitudes typically experiences consistently warm temperatures and high humidity year-round, conditions that generally favour rapid vegetative growth. Such environments tend to produce leaf that flushes quickly, with shorter intervals between plucking cycles than would be typical at higher elevations.

Jambi province lies on the island of Sumatra, where estates at low altitude generally contend with the region's equatorial climate—characterised by heavy rainfall distributed across much of the year and minimal temperature variation between seasons. These conditions tend to support vigorous growth but can also present challenges in terms of pest and disease pressure. The interplay of warmth, moisture, and low elevation typically results in a growing environment quite distinct from the cooler, slower-maturing conditions found in Indonesia's better-known highland tea districts.

Tea Produced

Kayu Aro produces both black and green teas. Estates at low elevations in equatorial Indonesia typically yield teas with a straightforward, robust character rather than the delicate complexity associated with high-altitude gardens. Black teas from such environments often display a malty or earthy base, with body and strength suited to blending or to markets that favour a bold, assertive cup. Green teas produced at lower elevations tend toward a vegetal, sometimes grassy profile, with less of the sweetness or floral nuance that cooler, slower-growing conditions can encourage. The rapid flush cycles typical of low-altitude, high-warmth regions generally produce leaf that is commercially viable but less prized for single-origin or premium applications.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kayu Aro is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the commodity and retail blending segment of the tea supply chain, where consistency, volume, and competitive pricing are typically prioritised over single-estate designation. Supply to a large British retailer suggests that Kayu Aro's output meets the standards for blended or own-label products destined for the UK mass market, a channel that demands reliable production and adherence to retailer specifications but does not generally confer high visibility to the originating estate.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

The estate is operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantra VI, a state-owned enterprise that forms part of Indonesia's network of plantation companies established to manage and develop the country's agricultural holdings. PT Perkebunan Nusantra VI oversees operations across a range of crops, including tea, and is recorded as operating at least one other tea estate in our directory. This structure is typical of Indonesia's plantation sector, where state enterprises play a significant role in production, export, and supply-chain coordination.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kayu Aro lies at -2.4213, 101.1674 in Jambi, Indonesia. Its 23 m elevation is the lowest of 17 estates we map in Indonesia. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Kayu Aro Tea Estate — 74 km away · Kerinci Regency
• Danau Kembar — 191 km away · West Sumatra
• Bah Butong Estate — 635 km away · Simalungun Regency
• HQ Sipef, Cibuni Factory — 723 km away · North Sumatra
• Sinumbra Tea Estate — 862 km away · West Java

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kayu Aro

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kayu Aro (23 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kayu Aro recorded 4,698 mm in 2025, 78% more than the 2,633 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
Lalchand tea Factory	Habiganj, Bangladesh	23 m	1,852 mm	30.2 °C
Sonarupa Tea Estate	Moulvibazar, Bangladesh	23 m	2,948 mm	30.0 °C
Shogyoken Seicha Co Ltd	54 Kusauchi Miyanogo Kyotanabeshi, Japan	23 m	1,448 mm	21.4 °C
Avissawella Tea Factory	Free Trade Zone Rd, Sri Lanka	23 m	4,025 mm	30.2 °C
Ruhunuputha	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	23 m	2,891 mm	30.4 °C

Kayu Aro Compared with Indonesia

In Indonesia, Kayu Aro is the wettest of the 17 estates by 2025 rainfall; the lowest of the 17 estates by elevation; warmer than 94% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kayu Aro against the 16 other estates we map in Indonesia, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	Kayu Aro	Country median	Country range
Elevation	23 m	1,410 m	27 to 1,859 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	4,698 mm	3,034 mm	2,437 to 4,307 mm
Mean daily high	30.4 °C	22.9 °C	20.0 to 30.6 °C
Mean overnight low	22.3 °C	15.9 °C	13.3 to 23.5 °C

Observed Climate at Kayu Aro (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kayu Aro’s coordinates recorded 4,698 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (563 mm) and the driest was July (203 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.4 °C and overnight lows 22.3 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and November the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	4,698 mm
Wettest month	November (563 mm)
Driest month	July (203 mm)
Mean daily high	30.4 °C
Mean overnight low	22.3 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kayu Aro located?

Kayu Aro is in Jambi, Indonesia, at coordinates -2.4213, 101.1674, at an elevation of about 23 metres.

Who operates Kayu Aro?

Kayu Aro is operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantra VI, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Kayu Aro produce?

Kayu Aro is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does Kayu Aro supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kayu Aro as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does Kayu Aro receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,698 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (563 mm).

How does Kayu Aro compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Kayu Aro recorded 4,698 mm in 2025, 78% more rain than the 2,633 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].