In short: Gotha Tea is a Malawian estate on the Thyolo-Muloza Road at 643 metres elevation, operated by Eastern Produce Malawi Ltd., which manages six other tea estates in our directory.
Gotha Tea is a tea estate located on the Thyolo-Muloza Road in southern Malawi, at an elevation of 643 metres. The estate is operated by Eastern Produce Malawi Ltd., a company active across the country's tea sector. Gotha produces both black and green tea, though no buyer relationships are currently recorded in industry supply-chain data.
Terroir & Climate
At 643 metres above sea level, Gotha sits within the lower-altitude tier of Malawi's tea-growing belt. Estates at this elevation in southern Malawi typically experience warm, humid conditions and a pronounced wet season, which tends to support vigorous vegetative growth and a long plucking cycle. The Thyolo district, where the estate is located, generally benefits from well-distributed rainfall and red laterite soils that are common in the region.
Lower-elevation estates in Malawi often produce higher volumes of leaf than their high-elevation counterparts, though the balance between yield and the delicate aromatics favoured in premium grades can vary. The warm growing environment typical of this altitude range tends to encourage faster leaf maturation, which is often reflected in the body and strength of the processed tea.
Tea Produced
Gotha produces both black and green tea. Black teas from Malawian estates at this elevation generally yield a full-bodied, malty cup with moderate astringency and a reddish-brown liquor. The green teas processed in Malawi tend to be less common in international markets, but estates in the region have increasingly diversified their output to include both orthodox and unorthodox green styles. The cup profile for such teas often reflects the terroir's warmth, with a softer, less grassy character than high-elevation examples from East Africa or Asia.
Operator
Eastern Produce Malawi Ltd. operates Gotha Tea alongside six other estates recorded in our directory, making it one of the more significant multi-estate operators in the country. The company's portfolio spans various districts within Malawi's southern tea region, and its scale suggests a degree of vertical integration and logistical coordination across production, processing, and export functions.
Certifications & Ethics
Gotha Tea holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a membership organisation that requires estates to meet standards on labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship. For buyers, ETP certification offers third-party assurance that the estate is subject to regular audits on working conditions, wage payment, and grievance mechanisms. For workers, membership in the partnership is intended to ensure access to basic protections and a framework for continuous improvement in estate management practices.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Gotha Tea lies at -16.0252, 35.5083 in Thyolo- Muloza Road, Malawi. Its 643 m elevation is the joint 16th highest of 23 estates we map in Malawi. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- ESPERANZA — under 1 km away · Mulanje
- MINI MINI — under 1 km away · Mulanje
- Bloomfield Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Muloza
- Lauderdale Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Thyolo-Muloza Road
- Likanga Tea Estate — under 1 km away · Thyolo-Muloza Road
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Gotha Tea
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Gotha Tea (643 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Gotha Tea recorded 1,677 mm in 2025, 33% less than the 2,497 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawalazi Tea Estate | D44, Malawi | 653 m | 2,396 mm | 27.2 °C |
| Dartry | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 633 m | 2,750 mm | 27.0 °C |
| Agarapatana Plantations, Diyagama West | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 655 m | 2,872 mm | 26.8 °C |
| Hunan Xiaoxiang Tea Industry Co., Ltd. - Baotian Town | Huitong County, China | 667 m | 1,715 mm | 21.6 °C |
| Badamtam Tea Estate | Weste Bengal, India | 608 m | 2,753 mm | 27.2 °C |
Gotha Tea Compared with Malawi
In Malawi, Gotha Tea is drier than 59% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the lowest of the 23 estates by elevation; warmer than 64% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Gotha Tea against the 22 other estates we map in Malawi, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Gotha Tea | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 643 m | 722 m | 643 to 1,022 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,677 mm | 1,677 mm | 1,525 to 3,738 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.9 °C | 25.5 °C | 24.1 to 27.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.9 °C | 17.9 °C | 16.2 to 18.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Gotha Tea (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Gotha Tea’s coordinates recorded 1,677 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was December (393 mm) and the driest was September (3 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.9 °C and overnight lows 17.9 °C over the year; January was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,677 mm |
| Wettest month | December (393 mm) |
| Driest month | September (3 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 17.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gotha Tea located?
Gotha Tea is in Thyolo- Muloza Road, Malawi, at coordinates -16.0252, 35.5083, at an elevation of about 643 metres.
Who operates Gotha Tea?
Gotha Tea is operated by Eastern Produce Malawi Ltd., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Gotha Tea produce?
Gotha Tea is recorded as producing black and green tea.
What certifications does Gotha Tea hold?
Gotha Tea is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Gotha Tea receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,677 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in December (393 mm).
How does Gotha Tea compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Gotha Tea recorded 1,677 mm in 2025, 33% less rain than the 2,497 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].
