In short: I & M Smith is a tea estate in South Africa's Western Cape, operating at 124 metres elevation and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
I & M Smith is a tea estate located in the Western Cape region of South Africa, at an elevation of 124 metres above sea level. The estate produces both black and green teas and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major name in the international tea trade. Details of the estate's ownership and operational structure have not been publicly documented in available trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 124 metres elevation in the Western Cape, I & M Smith occupies a relatively low-altitude site in a region better known for wine than tea. South Africa's tea cultivation is concentrated primarily in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces, making commercial tea production in the Western Cape uncommon. Estates at this latitude—approximately 32° South—and modest elevation typically experience a Mediterranean-type climate with wet winters and warm, dry summers, though microclimates vary considerably depending on proximity to the coast and local topography.
Tea grown at such low elevations generally experiences warmer ambient temperatures and faster vegetative growth than high-altitude counterparts. The growing cycle in South Africa's temperate zones tends to be seasonal, with dormancy during the cooler winter months and active flush production from spring through autumn. Leaf character at lower elevations often reflects rapid growth, yielding material suited to robust processing styles, though specific outcomes depend heavily on cultivar selection, irrigation, and estate management practices.
Tea Produced
I & M Smith produces both black and green teas. Black teas from lower-elevation Southern Hemisphere estates generally tend toward brisk, straightforward cup profiles, often with good body and colour extraction suited to blending applications. Green tea production in South Africa remains relatively niche; processing style and leaf handling at the estate level have a pronounced influence on the finished character. Estates in temperate maritime-influenced climates can yield leaf with clean, vegetal notes, though cup profile will vary with season and manufacturing technique.
Supply Chain & Market Position
I & M Smith is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and horticultural producers and a key intermediary in the global tea supply chain. Finlays operates both as a grower and as a buyer of third-party leaf, processing and blending material for onward sale to brand owners and packers worldwide. The relationship indicates that I & M Smith's output enters mainstream commercial channels, likely destined for blended retail products or foodservice applications in international markets. Finlays' involvement suggests the estate meets the quality assurance and traceability standards expected by major downstream buyers.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
I \u0026 M Smith lies at -32.1873, 18.8902 in Western Cape, South Africa. Its 124 m elevation is the highest of 3 estates we map in South Africa. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Rooibos Limited — under 1 km away
- Cape Rooibos — 56 km away
- Southdown Estate — 1908 km away · Chipinge
- Roscommon Estate, Wanganella — 1945 km away · Chimanimani
- Jersey Tea Estate — 2013 km away · Msasa
Estates at a Similar Altitude to I \u0026 M Smith
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match I \u0026 M Smith (124 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. I \u0026 M Smith recorded 313 mm in 2025, 90% less than the 3,136 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nalani Tea Estate | Assam, India | 124 m | 2,993 mm | 28.8 °C |
| BUDLABETA | Assam, India | 123 m | 3,279 mm | 27.9 °C |
| Spring View | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 125 m | 3,902 mm | 29.5 °C |
| KDU, Galpaditenne | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 126 m | 3,902 mm | 29.5 °C |
| Zhejiang Wuyi Tea Base | P.R, China | 128 m | 1,604 mm | 24.6 °C |
Observed Climate at I \u0026 M Smith (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for I \u0026 M Smith’s coordinates recorded 313 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was June (76 mm) and the driest was February (1 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.4 °C and overnight lows 13.4 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 313 mm |
| Wettest month | June (76 mm) |
| Driest month | February (1 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is I \u0026 M Smith located?
I \u0026 M Smith is in Western Cape, South Africa, at coordinates -32.1873, 18.8902, at an elevation of about 124 metres.
What type of tea does I \u0026 M Smith produce?
I \u0026 M Smith is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does I \u0026 M Smith supply?
Public supplier disclosures record I \u0026 M Smith as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does I \u0026 M Smith receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 313 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in June (76 mm).
How does I \u0026 M Smith compare with estates at a similar elevation?
I \u0026 M Smith recorded 313 mm in 2025, 90% less rain than the 3,136 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].