Kenya is the largest tea growing country in Africa, ranking fourth in world tea production and third in exports in 2008. The first Kenyan tea was cultivated in 1903 in Limuru in the Kiambu District, planted by a European settler named Caine on a small, two acre parcel of land. |
Today, those same tea bush- es have grown into large trees, providing a historical look at the past, located on what is now Unilever’s Mabroukie Tea Estate.Kenya’s tea industry is divided into two dis- tinct divisions; the large scale tea plantation division, and the small scale tea farms called smallholders. There are more than half a million registered smallholder farms located across the tea growing areas ofKenya.The remaining tea is grown and brought to market by large multinational tea or com- modities firms, the four largest of which are: Unilever, James Finlay, Williamson Tea |
in the U.K.), and Eastern Producers (based in Kenya). The tea grown and produced by these large privately owned tea estates is promoted by the Kenya Tea Growers Association.In 1965 the Kenya Tea Development Authority or KTDA was formed to help promote and support the smallholder farmers. Smallholder members of the KTDA grow and process in excess of 60% of Ken- ya’s tea. (In 2010 Kenya produced a total of 1,398.5 M. kgs.).Kenya tea is marketed as one brand under the KTDA. With the cum- ulative production of all smallholder farms, the KTDA is the largest tea producer in the world, operating over 50 factories that process the leaf from over half a million smallholder farms. Kenya has a near perfect tropical climate, Even with year round growth, the best teas Approximately 90% of Kenyan teas tea bag blends. Recognized as the leader in CTC produc– Kenya is working hard to create a national brand identity, Fair Trade and organic certifications to attract more With the growing interest worldwide in specialty orthodox The white teas are natually dried as much as possible, with a final mechanical drying to |
Look for Kenya Silverback White and Kenya Safari Nandi White, and Kenya “Natural” Green Tea at your local tea shop or online. And for a quality black Kenya tea, look for Milima GFBOP1 (Milima Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe #1) (see our naming/grading page for descriptions of letter grades and what they mean), which is made from a blend of leaves from three tea gardens belonging to the British owned, James Finlay Tea Company.Milima means “In a High Place,” in Swahili and it’s an appropriate name as it grows in the Kenyan Highlands at more than 6,000 feet above sea level. The cool air and rocky soil concentrate the tea leaves with wonderful flavors of orange and spice. The tea leaves are processed at the Marinyn Estate, where they are first withered, rolled in the orthodox fashion between two plates, then oxidized and dried.Although the quality of Milima varies from year to year, at its best it offers a zesty citrusy orange, and warm spice aromas and flavors. It’s definitely a tea to watch and try. Enjoy. |