CHAWANI

Chawani is a tea estate in the Thyolo district of Malawi, situated at an elevation of 906 metres. The estate is operated by Satemwa Tea Estates Ltd and is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. The estate produces both black and green tea.

Terroir & Climate

At 906 metres above sea level in Thyolo, Chawani occupies a mid-elevation position in a region that typically experiences the warm, subtropical conditions characteristic of Malawi's southern tea-growing districts. Estates at this altitude generally benefit from moderate temperatures and well-distributed rainfall, conditions that tend to support steady vegetative growth for much of the year. The elevation is high enough to confer some diurnal temperature variation, which can contribute to flavour development in the leaf, yet not so high as to slow the growing cycle significantly.

Thyolo itself lies in a part of Malawi where the interplay of altitude, latitude, and proximity to moisture sources tends to create a climate conducive to year-round tea cultivation. Estates in this belt often experience a defined wet season that drives vigorous flushing, followed by drier months that can concentrate flavour compounds. The combination of warmth and elevation typically allows for a relatively fast plucking cycle, which influences both yield patterns and the character of the processed leaf.

Tea Produced

Chawani produces both black and green tea. Black teas from mid-elevation Malawian estates generally yield a brisk, bright liquor with a clean, straightforward character; the cup often shows good body and a malty or slightly sweet profile without excessive astringency. Green teas from this region tend to be less commonly encountered in international markets, but estates producing both categories typically apply orthodox or modified processing methods to achieve a fresher, more delicate cup from green leaf. The relatively warm growing conditions at this altitude can favour teas that are approachable and well-suited to blending, though specific cup profiles will vary with flush, processing, and handling.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Chawani is recorded as supplying Morrisons, a major British supermarket group with a significant own-label tea programme. This supply relationship indicates that the estate's output meets the quality, traceability, and volume requirements of a large retail buyer. Morrisons has in recent years emphasised transparency and responsible sourcing in its tea category, and estates appearing in its supply chain are typically subject to third-party audit and compliance standards, even where specific certifications are not publicly recorded.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Chawani is operated by Satemwa Tea Estates Ltd, a company with a long-established presence in Malawian tea. Satemwa operates at least one other estate recorded in this directory, reflecting a multi-site operation within the Thyolo region. The company is known in the trade for producing a range of orthodox and specialty teas alongside more conventional grades, and for maintaining direct relationships with international buyers.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

CHAWANI lies at -16.0693, 35.1406 in Thyolo, Malawi. Its 906 m elevation is the joint 3rd highest of 8 estates we map in Thyolo. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Makandi Tea \u0026 Coffee Estates — under 1 km away
• MBELUKO — under 1 km away
• Naming\u0027omba — under 1 km away
• Satemwa Tea Estates Limited, Magara (Tii) — under 1 km away
• Satemwa Tea Estates Limited, Satemwa — 3.6 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to CHAWANI

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match CHAWANI (906 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. CHAWANI recorded 1,525 mm in 2025, 35% less than the 2,333 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
Namunukula Plantations, Kinellan	Uva Province, Sri Lanka	907 m	2,206 mm	26.0 °C
Wentworth Tea Estate	Cherambadi, India	903 m	2,378 mm	26.4 °C
Blairlomond Tea Estate	Madulla Road, Sri Lanka	903 m	2,658 mm	26.7 °C
Namring Tea Estate	Darjeeling, India	923 m	3,324 mm	23.4 °C
Roscommon Estate, Wanganella	Chimanimani, Zimbabwe	928 m	1,101 mm	27.0 °C

CHAWANI Compared with Thyolo

In Thyolo, CHAWANI is the driest of the 8 estates by 2025 rainfall; lower than 86% of the others by elevation; the coolest of the 8 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets CHAWANI against the 7 other estates we map in Thyolo, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	CHAWANI	Region median	Region range
Elevation	906 m	906 m	891 to 1,022 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,525 mm	1,525 mm	1,525 to 1,655 mm
Mean daily high	24.1 °C	24.1 °C	24.1 to 24.4 °C
Mean overnight low	16.4 °C	16.4 °C	16.2 to 16.7 °C

Observed Climate at CHAWANI (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for CHAWANI’s coordinates recorded 1,525 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was December (342 mm) and the driest was September (10 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.1 °C and overnight lows 16.4 °C over the year; January was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,525 mm
Wettest month	December (342 mm)
Driest month	September (10 mm)
Mean daily high	24.1 °C
Mean overnight low	16.4 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is CHAWANI located?

CHAWANI is in Thyolo, Malawi, at coordinates -16.0693, 35.1406, at an elevation of about 906 metres.

Who operates CHAWANI?

CHAWANI is operated by Satemwa Tea Estates Ltd, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does CHAWANI produce?

CHAWANI is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does CHAWANI supply?

Public supplier disclosures record CHAWANI as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does CHAWANI receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,525 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in December (342 mm).

How does CHAWANI compare with estates at a similar elevation?

CHAWANI recorded 1,525 mm in 2025, 35% less rain than the 2,333 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].