In short: Kinoro Tea Factory is a black tea estate in Kenya's Eastern Province, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency at an elevation of 1,307 metres.
Kinoro Tea Factory is a black tea–producing estate located in Kenya's Eastern Province, at an elevation of 1,307 metres. The facility is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, which manages smallholder tea production across the country. No buyer relationships are currently recorded for this estate in public supply-chain data.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,307 metres above sea level and positioned just south of the equator, Kinoro occupies a mid-elevation growing zone in Kenya's Eastern Province. Estates at this altitude typically experience moderate temperature fluctuations between day and night, which can encourage steady vegetative growth and the accumulation of polyphenols in the leaf. The equatorial latitude generally permits year-round harvesting, though rainfall patterns in this region tend to create distinct wet and dry seasons that influence flush timing and yield.
Mid-elevation sites in Kenya's eastern tea zones often benefit from well-drained volcanic or laterite soils, though the specific soil series at Kinoro is not documented. Estates in this elevation band generally produce leaf with balanced astringency and body, suitable for the bold, brisk profiles that characterise much of Kenya's black tea output. Microclimate factors—including local cloud cover, wind exposure, and aspect—can vary considerably even within a single province.
Tea Produced
Kinoro Tea Factory produces black tea. Estates in Kenya's mid-elevation zones typically yield CTC-manufactured blacks with the bright, coppery liquor and brisk, malty character for which the country is known in international blending markets. Teas from this altitude range often show pronounced astringency and a clean, refreshing finish, though cup profile depends heavily on processing protocol, plucking standard, and seasonal variation. Without detailed manufacturing or sensory data for Kinoro itself, generalisations about this estate's specific cup character remain speculative.
Operator
The Kenya Tea Development Agency oversees tea production on behalf of smallholder farmers, operating a network of factories that collect, process, and market leaf from outgrower schemes. KTDA manages six other estates recorded in this directory, making it one of the most significant actors in Kenya's smallholder tea sector. The agency's model centres on farmer ownership and cooperative processing, with individual growers supplying green leaf to centralised factories for manufacture and sale.
Certifications & Ethics
Kinoro Tea Factory holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that promotes labour rights, environmental stewardship, and social compliance in tea-producing regions. ETP certification signals that the estate has undergone third-party assessment against the partnership's standard, which addresses issues including wages, working conditions, pesticide management, and community engagement. For buyers, the certification offers a degree of assurance regarding supply-chain due diligence; for workers and smallholders, it is intended to underpin safer, fairer working environments.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kinoro Tea Factory lies at -0.1814, 37.6759 in Eastern Province, Kenya. Its 1307 m elevation is the 181st highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Weru Tea Factory — 12 km away · Mariani
- Imenti Tea Factory — 16 km away · Meru
- Rukuriri Tea Factory — 26 km away · RUKURIRI TEA FACTORY
- Njeru Tea Factory — 26 km away · Meru-Nairobi Highway
- KENYA TEA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (KTDA) - Mungania — 31 km away · PO BOX 927
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kinoro Tea Factory
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kinoro Tea Factory (1,307 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kinoro Tea Factory recorded 1,008 mm in 2025, 64% less than the 2,763 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatton Plantations, Abbotsleigh | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,307 m | 4,232 mm | 22.5 °C |
| Muzizi | Kagadi District of the Bwikara Sub-County, Uganda | 1,305 m | 1,286 mm | 27.2 °C |
| Hunan Yiqingyuan Everspring Tea Co., Ltd. | Pu'Er City, China | 1,313 m | 2,137 mm | 24.6 °C |
| Bogawantalawa Plantations, Bogawantalawa | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,301 m | 3,868 mm | 22.1 °C |
| TUMSONG | West Bengal, India | 1,324 m | 2,294 mm | 21.9 °C |
Kinoro Tea Factory Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, Kinoro Tea Factory is drier than 85% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 97% of the others by elevation; warmer than 89% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kinoro Tea 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 | Kinoro Tea Factory | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,307 m | 1,990 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,008 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.5 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.9 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Kinoro Tea Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kinoro Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,008 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was March (173 mm) and the driest was September (23 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.5 °C and overnight lows 16.9 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,008 mm |
| Wettest month | March (173 mm) |
| Driest month | September (23 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 16.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kinoro Tea Factory located?
Kinoro Tea Factory is in Eastern Province, Kenya, at coordinates -0.1814, 37.6759, at an elevation of about 1307 metres.
Who operates Kinoro Tea Factory?
Kinoro Tea Factory is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kinoro Tea Factory produce?
Kinoro Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
What certifications does Kinoro Tea Factory hold?
Kinoro Tea Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Kinoro Tea Factory receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,008 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in March (173 mm).
How does Kinoro Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kinoro Tea Factory recorded 1,008 mm in 2025, 64% less rain than the 2,763 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].
