In short: Luponde is a tea estate in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania, operated by Mufindi Tea & Coffee Limited and recorded as supplying Morrisons.
Luponde is a tea estate situated in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania, at an elevation of approximately 59 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Mufindi Tea & Coffee Limited and produces both black and green teas. It is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 59 metres above sea level, Luponde occupies an unusually low elevation for tea cultivation. Most commercial tea estates operate at significantly higher altitudes where cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation tend to slow leaf growth and encourage the accumulation of flavour compounds. Estates at this elevation in East Africa typically experience warmer, more humid conditions year-round, which can accelerate vegetative growth and yield a more vigorous flush cycle.
The Dar es Salaam region, located on the Tanzanian coast at approximately 6.8°S, generally benefits from a tropical climate moderated by proximity to the Indian Ocean. Estates in such low-lying, equatorial zones often contend with higher ambient temperatures and may rely on careful canopy management and irrigation to maintain leaf quality during drier periods. The interplay of warmth and moisture at this latitude tends to favour rapid biomass production, though the specific terroir of Luponde will depend on local soil composition and microclimate factors not disclosed in available records.
Tea Produced
Luponde produces both black and green teas. Black teas from low-elevation East African estates typically yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with malty or robust characteristics, often suited to blending or breakfast-style infusions. Green teas from such environments tend to be more vegetal and less delicate than high-grown counterparts, with a straightforward, grassy character. The estate's position at 59 metres may contribute to teas with a bolder, less nuanced profile than those from Tanzania's higher-altitude growing zones, though actual cup quality will vary with processing and seasonal factors.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Luponde is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship indicates that the estate's output meets the volume, consistency, and food-safety standards required by large British retailers. Supplying a household-name grocer suggests Luponde's teas are positioned for the mainstream retail segment, likely contributing to own-label or value lines where blendability and dependable quality are prioritised over single-estate provenance.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
The estate is operated by Mufindi Tea & Coffee Limited. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in our directory.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Luponde lies at -6.7924, 39.2083 in DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania United Republic Of. Its 59 m elevation is the 14th highest of 16 estates we map in Tanzania United Republic Of. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Nshili Kivu Tea Plantations — 9.2 km away
- Kyenjojo, Tea Factory — 9.3 km away
- East Usambara Tea Co. Ltd, Kwamkoro — 205 km away · Tanga
- KABAMBE — 403 km away · Iringa
- KIBENA — 403 km away · Iringa
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Luponde
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Luponde (59 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Luponde recorded 1,092 mm in 2025, 65% less than the 3,151 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misa, Garden Leaf | Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka | 59 m | 3,969 mm | 30.3 °C |
| Karotoa Bohumukhi somobay somiti Factory Ltd. | Panchagarh, Bangladesh | 60 m | 2,252 mm | 29.0 °C |
| Andaradeniya Estate, Duliella | Southern Province, Sri Lanka | 58 m | 3,510 mm | 29.9 °C |
| South Asiatic Tea Co., Ltd | Sanzhi District, Taiwan | 60 m | 2,989 mm | 25.5 °C |
| Mijicajan Tea Estate | Assam, India | 57 m | 3,033 mm | 29.3 °C |
Luponde Compared with Tanzania United Republic Of
In Tanzania United Republic Of, Luponde is drier than 60% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 87% of the others by elevation; warmer than 87% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Luponde against the 15 other estates we map in Tanzania United Republic Of, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Luponde | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 59 m | 1,611 m | 7 to 1,963 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,092 mm | 1,094 mm | 628 to 2,554 mm |
| Mean daily high | 30.0 °C | 21.6 °C | 19.4 to 30.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.7 °C | 14.1 °C | 11.6 to 23.7 °C |
Observed Climate at Luponde (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Luponde’s coordinates recorded 1,092 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (345 mm) and the driest was July (16 mm). Daytime highs averaged 30.0 °C and overnight lows 23.7 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and June the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,092 mm |
| Wettest month | April (345 mm) |
| Driest month | July (16 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 30.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 23.7 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Luponde located?
Luponde is in DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania United Republic Of, at coordinates -6.7924, 39.2083, at an elevation of about 59 metres.
Who operates Luponde?
Luponde is operated by Mufindi Tea & Coffee Limited, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Luponde produce?
Luponde is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does Luponde supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Luponde as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does Luponde receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,092 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (345 mm).
How does Luponde compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Luponde recorded 1,092 mm in 2025, 65% less rain than the 3,151 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].
