In short: Mabayi is a tea estate in the Cibitoke region of Burundi, operated by Office Du Thé Du Burundi and known to supply Morrisons.
Mabayi is a tea estate located in the Cibitoke region of Burundi, positioned at an elevation of 1,413 metres. The estate is operated by Office Du Thé Du Burundi, the parastatal body responsible for coordinating much of Burundi's tea sector. Mabayi is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, the British supermarket chain, and produces both black and green tea.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,413 metres above sea level, Mabayi occupies a mid-altitude position within Burundi's tea-growing landscape. Estates at this elevation in the East African highlands typically experience moderate temperatures and a reliable distribution of rainfall across much of the year, conditions that tend to support steady vegetative growth. The Cibitoke region, in the north-west of Burundi near the Rwandan border, generally benefits from the moist air masses that move across the Western Rift Valley, contributing to the humidity levels that tea plants favour.
This altitude range often results in a growing cycle that balances leaf throughput with the development of some flavour complexity. While not situated at the highest elevations where growth slows markedly, estates around 1,400 metres can typically achieve reasonable yields while retaining a degree of the aromatic character that buyers seek in East African teas. The interplay of altitude, latitude, and the region's microclimate tends to shape a leaf profile that processors can direct toward either orthodox black or green tea formats.
Tea Produced
Mabayi produces both black and green tea, reflecting the versatility that estates at this elevation in Burundi can often achieve. Black teas from mid-altitude Burundian estates typically offer a clean, bright liquor with moderate body and a straightforward, malty character; they tend to be well-suited to blending and to retail formats that prioritise consistency and approachability. Green tea production in the region generally yields a fresh, lightly vegetal cup, though the specific processing methods and leaf grades will determine the final profile. Estates in Cibitoke can often produce teas that appeal to buyers seeking reliable, competitively priced East African leaf for both commodity and own-label markets.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Mabayi is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply web of a major retail buyer, suggesting that its output meets the quality, traceability, and volume benchmarks required for own-label or contract-packed tea products. Supply to a household-name retailer of this scale typically indicates participation in audited procurement programmes, even where specific third-party certifications are not formally recorded. For a parastatal-operated estate in Burundi, such a commercial link represents both a measure of export capability and exposure to the standards and scrutiny that characterise modern Western grocery supply chains.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
Office Du Thé Du Burundi is the state-owned entity that oversees a significant portion of Burundi's tea production and marketing infrastructure. As the operator of Mabayi, it manages processing, quality control, and export logistics, often coordinating smallholder leaf intake alongside estate-grown production. Office Du Thé Du Burundi operates two other estates recorded in our directory, reflecting its role as a central pillar of the national tea industry. The parastatal structure means that decisions around investment, processing capacity, and market positioning are shaped by both commercial imperatives and national agricultural policy.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
MABAYI lies at -2.7155, 29.2444 in Cibitoke, Burundi. Its 1413 m elevation is the lowest of 4 estates we map in Burundi. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- NSHILI KIVU — 20 km away · Kigali
- Gisovu Tea Factory — 22 km away · Gisovu
- Muganza - Kivu — 27 km away · Nyaruguru
- Gisakura Tea Estate — 34 km away · West
- RWEGURA — 39 km away · Kayanza
Observed Climate at MABAYI (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for MABAYI’s coordinates recorded 1,972 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (304 mm) and the driest was July (16 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.5 °C and overnight lows 15.8 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and May the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,972 mm |
| Wettest month | May (304 mm) |
| Driest month | July (16 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 24.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is MABAYI located?
MABAYI is in Cibitoke, Burundi, at coordinates -2.7155, 29.2444, at an elevation of about 1413 metres.
Who operates MABAYI?
MABAYI is operated by Office Du The Du Burundi, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does MABAYI produce?
MABAYI is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does MABAYI supply?
Public supplier disclosures record MABAYI as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does MABAYI receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,972 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (304 mm).
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].