Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory is a black tea estate located in the Bomet region of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,944 metres. The operation is managed by Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory, and the estate is known to supply Finlays, a major player in the global tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,944 metres, Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory sits within the high-altitude tea-growing belt that characterises much of Kenya's western tea-producing regions. Estates at this elevation typically benefit from cooler temperatures and a more pronounced diurnal range, conditions that tend to slow leaf growth and can encourage the accumulation of compounds associated with body and brightness in the cup. The Bomet region, positioned just south of the equator, generally experiences a bimodal rainfall pattern that shapes two main growing seasons each year.

High-altitude Kenyan estates often contend with periodic cloud cover and mist, factors that tend to moderate direct sunlight exposure and may influence the development of polyphenols in the leaf. The volcanic soils common to this part of the Rift Valley highlands are typically well-drained and mineral-rich, characteristics that many growers associate with vigorous growth and distinctive cup character, though specific soil composition at individual estates can vary considerably.

Tea Produced

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory produces black tea. Kenyan black teas from high-altitude estates in Bomet generally yield a bright, coppery liquor with a brisk, astringent character and good body. Teas from this elevation and latitude often exhibit a clean, malty backbone with notes that can range from citrus to currant, though individual factory processing and seasonal variation play significant roles in the final cup profile. The altitude tends to favour teas suited to blending as well as single-origin offerings where brightness and strength are valued.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive blending, packing, and distribution operations across multiple continents. Finlays sources from numerous origins and maintains a diverse supplier base, so inclusion in its network suggests that the estate's output meets the quality and volume standards required for international blending and branded retail supply chains. This connection positions Kipchimchim within the mainstream Kenyan export market, where teas are typically sold through auction or direct contract to global buyers who value consistency and the bright, brisk character for which Kenyan teas are known.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory lies at -0.7778, 35.3357 in Bomet, Kenya. Its 1944 m elevation is the joint 5th highest of 9 estates we map in Bomet. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Greenfields Tea Factory — under 1 km away
• Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory — under 1 km away
• Kymulot Factory — under 1 km away · Bomet - Tenwek - Silibwet Rd
• Chebango — 10 km away · Silibwet - Kapsoiyo - Kapsimotwa Rd
• Ndaraweta Tea Factory Ltd — 12 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory (1,944 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory recorded 921 mm in 2025, 51% less than the 1,866 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
Thiashola Tea Estate	Tamil Nadu, India	1,941 m	2,112 mm	19.9 °C
Ikumbi Tea Factory	Kaharati-kangari Rd, Kenya	1,950 m	1,398 mm	21.5 °C
Orange Valley Tea Estate	Darjeeling, India	1,936 m	2,294 mm	18.0 °C
Gisakura Tea Estate	West, Rwanda	1,953 m	2,008 mm	21.1 °C
GATUNGURU	Mathioya, Kenya	1,961 m	1,518 mm	20.9 °C

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory Compared with Bomet

In Bomet, Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory is the driest of the 9 estates by 2025 rainfall; lower than 75% of the others by elevation; cooler than 62% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory against the 8 other estates we map in Bomet, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory	Region median	Region range
Elevation	1,944 m	1,947 m	1,803 to 2,244 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	921 mm	1,080 mm	921 to 1,755 mm
Mean daily high	24.0 °C	24.0 °C	21.4 to 25.1 °C
Mean overnight low	12.9 °C	12.7 °C	9.8 to 12.9 °C

Observed Climate at Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 921 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (148 mm) and the driest was November (14 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.0 °C and overnight lows 12.9 °C over the year; November was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	921 mm
Wettest month	April (148 mm)
Driest month	November (14 mm)
Mean daily high	24.0 °C
Mean overnight low	12.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory located?

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory is in Bomet, Kenya, at coordinates -0.7778, 35.3357, at an elevation of about 1944 metres.

Who operates Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory?

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory is operated by Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory produce?

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 921 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (148 mm).

How does Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Kipchimchim Group, Koyo Tea Factory recorded 921 mm in 2025, 51% less rain than the 1,866 mm average of estates at a similar elevation.

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].