In short: Glen Afton Tea is a tea garden in Glen Afton, East Ayrshire, Scotland, at approximately 250 metres elevation, which according to Tea Scotland began with a 140-plant test plot in 2021 and expanded into a larger garden in 2022.
Glen Afton Tea is a tea garden in Glen Afton, East Ayrshire, Scotland. According to Tea Scotland, the garden is located beside the River Afton at around 250 metres above sea level and is among the highest tea gardens in Scotland. Tea Scotland reports that the growers started with a 140-plant test plot in 2021 and expanded into a larger garden in 2022. The tea is grown using organic, sustainable techniques, according to the same source.
What the Published Sources Say
- Tea Scotland says the tea garden is in Glen Afton, East Ayrshire, beside the River Afton, at 250 m above sea level and among the highest tea gardens in Scotland.
- Tea Scotland says the growers started with a 140-plant test plot in 2021 and expanded into a larger garden in 2022.
- The tea is grown using organic, sustainable techniques.
Sources: Tea Scotland: Glen Afton Tea. TeaTrade has not tested or tasted this grower's tea; these are the grower's and publishers' own statements.
Terroir & Climate
Glen Afton lies in the Scottish Southern Uplands at approximately 250 metres elevation, a setting that typically experiences a cool, wet maritime climate influenced by Atlantic weather systems. The area generally receives substantial rainfall distributed throughout the year, with relatively mild winters and cool summers characteristic of this latitude and proximity to the west coast.
At this elevation in East Ayrshire, growing conditions tend to be marginal for Camellia sinensis, with a short active growing season and cooler soil temperatures than in traditional tea-producing regions. Such conditions can slow vegetative growth and may influence leaf chemistry, though the specific impact on this garden's crop is not stated in the sources consulted.
Tea Produced
The sources consulted do not state which styles of tea Glen Afton Tea produces. The grower's use of organic and sustainable cultivation techniques is documented, but details of processing method, finished tea types, and cup character have not been published in the available material.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Glen Afton Tea is in East Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; the map pin (55.36, -4.17) is approximate and marks the locality. Its 256 m elevation is the highest of 16 estates we map in the United Kingdom. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from this approximate pin, are:
- Scottish Tea House — 36 km away · Lanarkshire
- Buittle Tea Garden — 51 km away · Dumfries and Galloway
- Auchencairn Tea — 61 km away · Dumfries and Galloway
- Isle of Arran Tea Company — 72 km away · Isle of Arran
- Glen Caladh Farm — 90 km away · Argyll and Bute
Glen Afton Tea Compared with the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Glen Afton Tea is wetter than 65% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the highest of the 16 estates by elevation; the coolest of the 18 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Glen Afton Tea against the 17 other estates we map in the United Kingdom, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Glen Afton Tea | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 256 m | 55 m | 2 to 192 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,371 mm | 1,307 mm | 777 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 10.9 °C | 12.8 °C | 11.0 to 14.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 5.2 °C | 6.2 °C | 5.1 to 8.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Glen Afton Tea (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Glen Afton Tea’s coordinates recorded 1,371 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was December (176 mm) and the driest was April (41 mm). Daytime highs averaged 10.9 °C and overnight lows 5.2 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,371 mm |
| Wettest month | December (176 mm) |
| Driest month | April (41 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 10.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 5.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Glen Afton Tea located?
Glen Afton Tea is in East Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. The map pin (55.36, -4.17) is approximate and marks the locality rather than the garden, at an elevation of about 256 metres.
How much rain does Glen Afton Tea receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,371 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in December (176 mm).
Data sources: the grower’s own published information and public sources (Tea Scotland: Glen Afton Tea); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the area’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); the map pin is rounded to about 1 km and marks the locality, not the garden; elevation is a terrain-model value for that point. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].