In short: Gacharage Tea Factory is a black-tea producer in the Gacharage region of Kenya, operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency and known to supply Sainsbury's.
Gacharage Tea Factory is a black-tea manufacturing facility located in the Gacharage region of Kenya, at an elevation of 2,157 metres. The factory is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), which manages the processing of leaf supplied by smallholder farmers in the catchment area. The estate is recorded as a supplier to Sainsbury's, one of the United Kingdom's major grocery retailers.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,157 metres above sea level, Gacharage sits within Kenya's high-altitude tea belt, where cooler temperatures and significant diurnal variation typically slow leaf maturation. Estates at this elevation often benefit from moderated stress on the bush, which can contribute to slower, more even growth cycles. The region's equatorial latitude means that seasonal variation in day length is minimal, but rainfall patterns and temperature fluctuations still drive distinct flush periods throughout the year.
High-altitude Kenyan sites such as this generally experience well-distributed rainfall and the volcanic soils common to the Central Highlands, which tend to offer good drainage and nutrient availability. These conditions often favour consistent yields of leaf with the potential for brisk, well-structured cup profiles. Cooler night-time temperatures at this elevation can support the accumulation of certain flavour compounds, though specific agronomic outcomes depend on cultivar selection, field management, and processing protocols employed at the factory level.
Tea Produced
Gacharage Tea Factory produces black tea. Kenyan black teas from high-altitude estates generally yield brisk, full-bodied liquors with a characteristic coppery brightness and a clean, malty astringency. The elevation and processing style common to KTDA factories tend to favour teas suited to blending, particularly for breakfast-style formats, though specific cup character will vary with season, leaf grade, and the manufacturing parameters applied during withering, rolling, and oxidation.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Gacharage Tea Factory is recorded as supplying Sainsbury's, indicating participation in the retail supply chain for one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket groups. This relationship places the factory within the mainstream commodity and blended-tea market, where Kenyan black teas are valued for their consistency, colour, and strength. Supply to a major UK retailer typically requires adherence to defined quality specifications, traceability standards, and often third-party certification—factors that shape both pricing and the factory's operational protocols.
- Recorded supplier to Sainsbury's
Operator
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is a farmer-owned organisation that operates tea factories on behalf of smallholder growers across Kenya's main tea-growing regions. The agency provides centralised processing, marketing, and support services, with individual factories typically serving defined catchment areas of contributing farmers. KTDA manages six other estates recorded in our directory, making it one of the most significant actors in Kenya's smallholder tea sector and a major supplier to both auction and direct-contract markets.
Certifications & Ethics
Gacharage Tea Factory holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, an industry body that works to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions on tea estates and in farming communities. Membership requires estates to meet standards covering labour rights, worker welfare, and environmental stewardship, with regular monitoring and improvement targets. For buyers, this certification provides third-party assurance of responsible sourcing; for workers and smallholder suppliers, it supports access to grievance mechanisms, training programmes, and initiatives aimed at raising living standards within the supply chain.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Gacharage Tea Factory lies at -0.7424, 36.8621 in Gacharage, Kenya. Its 2157 m elevation is the 12th highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Ikumbi Tea Factory — 7.3 km away · Kaharati-kangari Rd
- KANYENYAINI — 9.2 km away · KANGEMA
- NGERE — 12 km away · Thika
- GATUNGURU — 12 km away · Mathioya
- Kanyenya-Ini Tea Factory Company Ltd — 13 km away · KANGEMA
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Gacharage Tea Factory
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Gacharage Tea Factory (2,157 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Gacharage Tea Factory recorded 1,650 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 1,649 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.
| Estate | Where | Elevation | Rain 2025 | Mean high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karongi\u00a0Tea Factory | Birambo, Rwanda | 2,171 m | 1,401 mm | 20.3 °C |
| KAMBAA | Githunguri, Kenya | 2,173 m | 1,128 mm | 20.0 °C |
| IJENDA | Bujumbura Rural, Burundi | 2,175 m | 1,132 mm | 19.8 °C |
| Gisovu Tea Factory | Gisovu, Rwanda | 2,178 m | 2,889 mm | 20.1 °C |
| KIBWARI (Kibwari Factory) | Nandi Hills, Kenya | 2,132 m | 1,693 mm | 21.6 °C |
Gacharage Tea Factory Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, Gacharage Tea Factory is wetter than 58% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 94% of the others by elevation; cooler than 99% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Gacharage 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 | Gacharage Tea Factory | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 2,157 m | 1,989 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,650 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 19.0 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 10.9 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Gacharage Tea Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Gacharage Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,650 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (237 mm) and the driest was February (15 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.0 °C and overnight lows 10.9 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,650 mm |
| Wettest month | October (237 mm) |
| Driest month | February (15 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 19.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 10.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gacharage Tea Factory located?
Gacharage Tea Factory is in Gacharage, Kenya, at coordinates -0.7424, 36.8621, at an elevation of about 2157 metres.
Who operates Gacharage Tea Factory?
Gacharage Tea Factory is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Gacharage Tea Factory produce?
Gacharage Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Gacharage Tea Factory supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Gacharage Tea Factory as supplying Sainsbury's.
What certifications does Gacharage Tea Factory hold?
Gacharage Tea Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Gacharage Tea Factory receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,650 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (237 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].
