In short: Kymulot Factory is a black tea estate in the Bomet – Tenwek – Silibwet Rd area of Kenya, operated by James Finlay Kenya and recorded as supplying Finlays and Sainsbury's.
Kymulot Factory is a black tea estate situated in the Bomet – Tenwek – Silibwet Rd area of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,967 metres. The estate is operated by James Finlay Kenya, a long-established tea producer in the region, and is known to supply Finlays and Sainsbury's. It holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,967 metres above sea level, Kymulot Factory sits in a mid- to high-altitude zone typical of Kenya's Rift Valley highlands. Estates at this elevation generally experience cooler temperatures and a more pronounced diurnal range than those closer to sea level, factors that tend to slow leaf maturation and encourage the accumulation of polyphenols and other compounds that contribute to briskness and body in the cup.
The Bomet district lies close to the equator, meaning daylight hours remain relatively constant year-round. However, the region's rainfall pattern—usually bimodal, with peaks in spring and autumn—tends to shape two main cropping windows. The cooler nights and moderate daytime warmth at this altitude typically favour steady vegetative growth, and estates in similar settings often produce leaf that processors prize for consistent liquor strength and colour.
Tea Produced
Kymulot Factory produces black tea. Estates in the Kenyan highlands at comparable elevations typically yield a cup characterised by briskness, good body, and a bright, coppery liquor. The mid-highland profile often displays a clean astringency and malty undertones, qualities that blenders value for breakfast-style blends and single-origin offerings seeking robust flavour. While individual factory profiles vary with processing technique and seasonal flush, teas from this altitude band in Kenya generally offer the structure and brightness the market associates with East African origin.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kymulot Factory is recorded as supplying Finlays, the multinational tea and beverage ingredients company, and Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. The presence of both a processor-distributor and a major retail buyer indicates the estate's integration into established supply chains serving the UK market, where Kenyan black tea is a staple for blended and own-label products.
Supply to Sainsbury's suggests that Kymulot's output meets the traceability, quality assurance, and volume requirements of large-scale retail procurement. Finlays' position as both buyer and brand owner within the same corporate family as the estate operator underscores vertical integration in the sourcing of Kenyan tea destined for consumer brands and foodservice channels.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
James Finlay Kenya is the operating company behind Kymulot Factory. A subsidiary of the Finlays group, James Finlay Kenya manages tea estates and factories across Kenya's highlands and has a long history in the country's tea sector. The company operates at least one other estate recorded in our directory, reflecting its multi-site footprint in the region and its role as a significant supplier of Kenyan black tea to international markets.
Certifications & Ethics
Kymulot Factory holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that monitors labour rights, environmental stewardship, and social conditions on member estates. For buyers, ETP certification provides assurance that the estate is subject to regular independent audits against the partnership's standards, covering issues such as wages, working hours, health and safety, and the prohibition of child and forced labour. For workers, membership signals a commitment to ongoing improvement and external oversight, though the scope and impact of such schemes continue to be debated within the industry.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kymulot Factory lies at -0.7706, 35.3405 in Bomet - Tenwek - Silibwet Rd, Kenya. Its 1967 m elevation is the 104th highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Greenfields Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Bomet
- Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Bomet
- Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Bomet
- Chebango — 11 km away · Silibwet - Kapsoiyo - Kapsimotwa Rd
- Ndaraweta Tea Factory Ltd — 11 km away · Bomet
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kymulot Factory
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kymulot Factory (1,967 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kymulot Factory recorded 1,088 mm in 2025, 47% less than the 2,068 mm average across these estates: at the same height, local weather and exposure matter as much as elevation.
| Estate | Where | Elevation | Rain 2025 | Mean high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shagasha Tea Factory | Gisuma, Rwanda | 1,964 m | 1,875 mm | 21.2 °C |
| KIBWELE | Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of | 1,963 m | 1,215 mm | 19.4 °C |
| Chokanad Tea Estate | Kannan Devan Hills, India | 1,972 m | 2,995 mm | 19.7 °C |
| Concordia Tea Estate | Kandapola, Sri Lanka | 1,962 m | 2,796 mm | 18.9 °C |
| Glendale Estate | Coonoor, India | 1,961 m | 1,459 mm | 19.7 °C |
Kymulot Factory Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, Kymulot Factory is drier than 75% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 56% of the others by elevation; warmer than 63% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kymulot Factory against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Kymulot Factory | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,967 m | 1,990 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,088 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.3 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.5 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Kymulot Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kymulot Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,088 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (203 mm) and the driest was February (7 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.3 °C and overnight lows 12.5 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,088 mm |
| Wettest month | April (203 mm) |
| Driest month | February (7 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kymulot Factory located?
Kymulot Factory is in Bomet - Tenwek - Silibwet Rd, Kenya, at coordinates -0.7706, 35.3405, at an elevation of about 1967 metres.
Who operates Kymulot Factory?
Kymulot Factory is operated by James Finlay Kenya, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kymulot Factory produce?
Kymulot Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kymulot Factory supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kymulot Factory as supplying Finlays, Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Kymulot Factory hold?
Kymulot Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Kymulot Factory receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,088 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (203 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].
