Haileyburia Tea Estates Limited (HTEL), was incorporated on 23rd August, 1923, by a Scottish Planter Mr. Frank Bissett, who planted Semmni Valley Tea Estate and acquired adjoining Haileyburia and Chinnar Tea Estates near Elappara Village situated at Peermade Taluk of Idukki District of Kerala. The name Haileyburia is derived from the renowned HAILEYBURY PUBLIC SCHOOL in Hertford Heath England. The three estates Semmni Valley, Chinnar and Haileyburia consist of approx 2475 acres of which approx 1600 acres is planted with Tea and 300 acres with Coffee having inter cropping of Black Pepper. The company has a modern automatic tea factory at Semmni Valley Estate with an annual capacity to produce 1.8 million Kgs of CTC Tea and Coffee drying yard/parchment units at Haileyburia Tea Estates.
The company’s brand CHINNAR is among the leading retails tea brands in Kerala with presence across all 14 districts of state now extending to border districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The company markets it Coffee in dry cherries and parchment form to the exporters/domestic buyers in bulk and Black Pepper in green or dried black pepper form in bulk and same is preferred for their high quality.
The company estates located in Western Ghat slopes at mid elevation of 2800 to 3500 feets is blessed with twin monsoons and saucer type valley. Company has already built a check dam with storage capacity of 60 million liters of rain harvested water. The company intends to explore the available opportunities of developing tourism, exotic fruit cultivation and expanding its spices and coffee cropping area.
The company is privileged to celebrate its 100 years of existence during Centenary year 2023, in midst of a very challenging plantations working environment in Kerala,