In short: Sedep Tea Estate is a West Java plantation at 1,859 metres, operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII, producing black and green tea.
Sedep Tea Estate is a tea plantation in West Java, Indonesia, situated at an elevation of 1,859 metres. The estate is operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII, one of Indonesia's state-owned plantation companies. Sedep produces both black and green tea.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,859 metres above sea level, Sedep occupies a high-altitude site in West Java's volcanic uplands. Estates at this elevation typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf growth and may encourage the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the plucked shoots. The latitude—approximately 7° south of the equator—places the estate in a tropical belt where temperature variation is driven more by altitude than by season.
West Java's tea-growing districts generally receive abundant year-round rainfall, moderated by monsoonal patterns that bring wetter periods during the northern hemisphere winter and spring. At this altitude, mist and cloud cover are common, which can moderate solar radiation and maintain relatively stable humidity. These conditions are widely associated with estates producing teas of reasonable body and moderate astringency, though specific outcomes depend on varietal selection, processing and estate management practices.
Tea Produced
Sedep produces both black and green tea. Indonesian black teas from high-altitude West Java estates typically yield a cup with moderate body, gentle astringency and a clean, sometimes malty or slightly earthy character. Green teas from the region tend toward a vegetal profile with mild sweetness and a smooth texture, though processing style—whether pan-fired or steamed, and the degree of oxidation arrested—plays a decisive role in the final cup. Estates at this elevation often produce leaf with a balance of brightness and smoothness, though individual batch character will vary with season, clone and manufacture.
Operator
PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII (PTPN VIII) is an Indonesian state-owned enterprise managing tea, rubber and other plantation crops, primarily across West Java. The company operates Sedep alongside at least two other tea estates recorded in industry directories, forming part of a larger portfolio that plays a significant role in Indonesia's domestic and export tea supply. State ownership typically entails oversight by the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and involvement in government supply programmes, though commercial sales structures vary by estate and product grade.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Sedep Tea Estate lies at -7.2760, 107.6926 in WEST JAVA, Indonesia. Its 1859 m elevation is the joint 1st highest of 5 estates we map in WEST JAVA. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Talunsantosa Tea Estate — under 1 km away
- Malabar Tea Estate — 18 km away
- Dayeuh Manggung Tea Estate — 24 km away · Kabupaten Garut
- Dewata Tea Estate — 26 km away · Kab. Bandung
- Rancabali Tea Estate — 38 km away · Bandung Regency
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Sedep Tea Estate
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Sedep Tea Estate (1,859 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Sedep Tea Estate recorded 3,309 mm in 2025, 64% more than the 2,012 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamraj Tea Estate | Tamil Nadu, India | 1,863 m | 2,112 mm | 20.4 °C |
| Parkside Tea Estate | Coonoor, India | 1,864 m | 1,467 mm | 19.7 °C |
| Luckyland Tea Estate | Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd, Sri Lanka | 1,865 m | 3,152 mm | 19.6 °C |
| Mbogo Tea Factory | Kimatkei - Mbogo Valley Rd, Kenya | 1,868 m | 2,044 mm | 23.4 °C |
| GITUGI | Othaya, Kenya | 1,850 m | 1,285 mm | 21.7 °C |
Sedep Tea Estate Compared with WEST JAVA
In WEST JAVA, Sedep Tea Estate is wetter than 75% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 75% of the others by elevation; the coolest of the 5 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Sedep Tea Estate against the 4 other estates we map in WEST JAVA, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Sedep Tea Estate | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,859 m | 1,558 m | 1,430 to 1,859 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 3,309 mm | 2,986 mm | 2,799 to 3,309 mm |
| Mean daily high | 20.0 °C | 22.1 °C | 20.0 to 23.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.3 °C | 15.2 °C | 13.3 to 15.9 °C |
Observed Climate at Sedep Tea Estate (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Sedep Tea Estate’s coordinates recorded 3,309 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (438 mm) and the driest was July (134 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.0 °C and overnight lows 13.3 °C over the year; May was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 3,309 mm |
| Wettest month | November (438 mm) |
| Driest month | July (134 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 20.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sedep Tea Estate located?
Sedep Tea Estate is in WEST JAVA, Indonesia, at coordinates -7.2760, 107.6926, at an elevation of about 1859 metres.
Who operates Sedep Tea Estate?
Sedep Tea Estate is operated by PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Sedep Tea Estate produce?
Sedep Tea Estate is recorded as producing black and green tea.
How much rain does Sedep Tea Estate receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 3,309 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (438 mm).
How does Sedep Tea Estate compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Sedep Tea Estate recorded 3,309 mm in 2025, 64% more rain than the 2,012 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].
