In short: Orkney Tea is a tea grower on Shapinsay in Orkney, Scotland, operated by Norse Pilgrim Ltd, and described by Orkney.com as the furthest-north tea location in the UK.
Orkney Tea is a tea grower on Shapinsay in Orkney, Scotland, operated by Norse Pilgrim Ltd. According to Orkney.com, it is the furthest-north tea location in the UK. Tea Scotland says a Highlands and Islands Enterprise grant got the business underway in 2018, with the first tea processed and on sale in 2022. Orkney.com says Norse Pilgrim Ltd grows the tea on Shapinsay and that Norse Noir is a 100% Orkney-grown black tea.
What the Published Sources Say
- Tea Scotland says a Highlands and Islands Enterprise grant got the business underway in 2018, with the first tea processed and on sale in 2022.
- Most of the tea is grown under cover; plants outside have a shorter plucking season because of wind and storms.
- Orkney.com says Norse Pilgrim Ltd grows the tea on Shapinsay and that Norse Noir is a 100% Orkney-grown black tea.
- Orkney.com describes it as the furthest-north tea location in the UK.
Sources: Tea Scotland: Orkney Tea, Orkney.com: the Orkney Tea Plantation. TeaTrade has not tested or tasted this grower's tea; these are the grower's and publishers' own statements.
Terroir & Climate
The grower sits at approximately 17 metres above sea level on Shapinsay, well within Orkney's maritime zone. The archipelago generally experiences a cool oceanic climate, with mild winters, cool summers and year-round exposure to Atlantic weather systems. Wind speeds are typically high and rainfall moderate to high, conditions that shape the growing environment for any agricultural venture at this latitude.
According to the grower's own description, most of the tea is grown under cover; plants outside have a shorter plucking season because of wind and storms. The degree of shelter is therefore a critical variable in extending the productive window for tea cultivation in this northerly setting.
Tea Produced
The grower produces black tea. Orkney.com describes Norse Noir as a 100% Orkney-grown black tea. The sources consulted do not state further details of style, processing methods or cultivar selection.
Operator
The operation is run by Norse Pilgrim Ltd. No other estates operated by this company are recorded in our directory.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Orkney Tea is in Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom; the map pin (59.04, -2.91) is approximate and marks the locality. Its 17 m elevation is the 13th 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:
- Guisachan Tea — 222 km away · Inverness-shire
- Kinnettles Tea Garden — 270 km away · Angus
- Dalguise Tea — 274 km away · Perthshire
- St Martins Tea Garden — 288 km away · Perthshire
- Megginch Castle Tea Garden — 293 km away · Perthshire
Orkney Tea Compared with the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Orkney Tea is drier than 71% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 80% of the others by elevation; cooler than 88% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Orkney 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 | Orkney Tea | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 17 m | 79 m | 2 to 256 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,006 mm | 1,324 mm | 777 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 11.4 °C | 12.8 °C | 10.9 to 14.9 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 8.3 °C | 6.0 °C | 5.1 to 8.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Orkney Tea (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Orkney Tea’s coordinates recorded 1,006 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (167 mm) and the driest was April (34 mm). Daytime highs averaged 11.4 °C and overnight lows 8.3 °C over the year; July was the warmest month and January the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,006 mm |
| Wettest month | October (167 mm) |
| Driest month | April (34 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 11.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 8.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Orkney Tea located?
Orkney Tea is in Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom. The map pin (59.04, -2.91) is approximate and marks the locality rather than the garden, at an elevation of about 17 metres.
Who operates Orkney Tea?
Orkney Tea is operated by Norse Pilgrim Ltd, according to the grower's published information.
What type of tea does Orkney Tea produce?
Orkney Tea is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Orkney Tea receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,006 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (167 mm).
Data sources: the grower’s own published information and public sources (Tea Scotland: Orkney Tea, Orkney.com: the Orkney Tea Plantation); 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].