In short: Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory is a black tea producer in the Bomet region of Kenya, operating at 1,944 metres and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory is a tea estate and processing facility located in the Bomet region of Kenya, operating at an altitude of 1,944 metres. The estate is operated by Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory and produces black tea. It is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the major international tea companies with purchasing operations in East Africa.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,944 metres above sea level, Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory sits within the elevated tea-growing belt of Kenya's Rift Valley highlands. Estates at this altitude typically benefit from cooler temperatures and a more pronounced diurnal range than lowland gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf development and can contribute to the accumulation of flavour compounds. The Bomet region lies close to the equator, and tea grown at this latitude generally experiences relatively consistent day length throughout the year, which often supports a steady flush cycle without the dramatic seasonal dormancy seen in more temperate zones.
Rainfall patterns in the western Kenyan highlands are typically bimodal, with estates in this area often experiencing two distinct wet seasons. These conditions, combined with volcanic soils common to the Rift Valley, tend to support vigorous vegetative growth. The elevation and climate profile of gardens at this altitude generally favour the production of teas with good body and briskness, characteristics often sought by blenders for both packet tea and foodservice applications.
Tea Produced
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory produces black tea. Kenyan black teas from estates at this elevation typically yield a bright, coppery infusion with pronounced briskness and body. The cup character of teas grown in the Bomet region often exhibits the clean, robust profile associated with high-altitude Kenyan production: a lively astringency, malty or slightly vegetal notes, and good colour in the cup. These attributes generally make such teas well-suited to blending, particularly in English Breakfast-style products and foodservice applications where strength and colour are valued.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with extensive sourcing operations across Kenya and other East African origins. Finlays purchases tea both as a primary processor and as a blender-packer for retail and foodservice customers worldwide. The connection to Finlays suggests that production from this estate likely enters large-volume commercial supply chains, potentially reaching retail brands and institutional buyers in the UK, Europe, and beyond. The presence of a named international buyer indicates a degree of integration into the formal export market, though the full extent of the estate's buyer base is not publicly documented.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi 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, Koyo 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, Merigi Tea Factory
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kipchimchim Group, Merigi 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, Merigi 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, Merigi Tea Factory Compared with Bomet
In Bomet, Kipchimchim Group, Merigi 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, Merigi 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, Merigi 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, Merigi Tea Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kipchimchim Group, Merigi 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, Merigi Tea Factory located?
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory is in Bomet, Kenya, at coordinates -0.7778, 35.3357, at an elevation of about 1944 metres.
Who operates Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory?
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory is operated by Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory produce?
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kipchimchim Group, Merigi Tea Factory as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kipchimchim Group, Merigi 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, Merigi Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kipchimchim Group, Merigi 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].
