In short: Mudete Tea Factory is a black tea producer in Gisambai - Mudete Rd, Kenya, operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency and certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Mudete Tea Factory is a black tea production facility located in the Gisambai - Mudete Rd area of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,603 metres. The estate is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the country's dominant smallholder cooperative processing network. No buyer relationships are currently recorded in public supply-chain data.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,603 metres above sea level and positioned almost precisely on the equator, Mudete occupies a mid-altitude zone that typically experiences relatively stable temperatures throughout the year. Estates at this elevation in Kenya's western highlands generally benefit from consistent rainfall distributed across two distinct wet seasons, conditions that tend to support continuous vegetative flush rather than pronounced seasonal dormancy.
This equatorial altitude band usually sees warm days moderated by elevation, with cooler nights that can slow leaf maturation and encourage the accumulation of polyphenols. The combination of latitude and height often results in a growing environment less extreme than either low-altitude tropical factories or high-elevation estates, producing leaf that tends toward balanced astringency and body without the sharper pungency sometimes associated with very high-grown Kenyan teas.
Tea Produced
Mudete processes black tea, the dominant category across Kenya's smallholder sector. Factories in this mid-altitude range typically produce CTC-method blacks characterised by brisk, malty profiles with moderate astringency and copper-red liquor. Teas from this elevation band in western Kenya often exhibit a rounded body and clean, straightforward character suited to blending and value-focused single-origin offerings, though cup profile can vary significantly with processing parameters and the specific leaf inputs from surrounding smallholdings.
Operator
Kenya Tea Development Agency operates Mudete as part of its extensive network of smallholder-fed factories across the country's tea-growing regions. KTDA manages processing, marketing, and quality control on behalf of thousands of independent small-scale growers who deliver green leaf to its facilities. Six other KTDA-operated estates are recorded in this directory, reflecting the agency's dominant position in Kenya's tea sector, where it accounts for the majority of national production and handles the crop from more than half a million registered farmers.
Certifications & Ethics
Mudete Tea Factory holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that monitors labour rights, environmental stewardship, and community welfare across certified estates. For buyers, ETP membership signals independently verified compliance with standards covering working conditions, pesticide management, and grievance mechanisms. For workers and smallholder suppliers, certification typically entails access to training, health and safety protocols, and third-party audits intended to ensure fair treatment and sustainable farming practices.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Mudete Tea Factory lies at 0.1127, 34.7694 in Gisambai - Mudete Rd, Kenya. Its 1603 m elevation is the 172nd highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- KAIMOSI — 8.5 km away · Kaimosi
- Chepkumia Tea Factory — 21 km away · Nandi
- Chebut Kaptumo Tea Co Ltd. — 38 km away · Kisumu Road
- CHEBUT — 38 km away · Kapsabet
- KAPTUMO — 38 km away · Kapsabet
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Mudete Tea Factory
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Mudete Tea Factory (1,603 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Mudete Tea Factory recorded 1,708 mm in 2025, 37% less than the 2,710 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madupatty Tea Estate | Mattupetty, India | 1,606 m | 2,773 mm | 21.3 °C |
| MWAKALELI | Mbeya region, Tanzania United Republic Of | 1,611 m | 1,944 mm | 19.8 °C |
| Seeyok Tea Garden | Mirik, India | 1,612 m | 2,552 mm | 19.4 °C |
| Dessford Tea Estate | Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka | 1,612 m | 3,152 mm | 21.2 °C |
| Kayu Aro Tea Estate | Kerinci Regency, Indonesia | 1,618 m | 3,130 mm | 21.1 °C |
Mudete Tea Factory Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, Mudete Tea Factory is wetter than 67% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 92% of the others by elevation; warmer than 97% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Mudete 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 | Mudete Tea Factory | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,603 m | 1,990 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,708 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.7 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.3 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Mudete Tea Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Mudete Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,708 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (281 mm) and the driest was February (7 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.7 °C and overnight lows 15.3 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,708 mm |
| Wettest month | April (281 mm) |
| Driest month | February (7 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.3 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mudete Tea Factory located?
Mudete Tea Factory is in Gisambai - Mudete Rd, Kenya, at coordinates 0.1127, 34.7694, at an elevation of about 1603 metres.
Who operates Mudete Tea Factory?
Mudete Tea Factory is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Mudete Tea Factory produce?
Mudete Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
What certifications does Mudete Tea Factory hold?
Mudete Tea Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Mudete Tea Factory receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,708 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (281 mm).
How does Mudete Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Mudete Tea Factory recorded 1,708 mm in 2025, 37% less rain than the 2,710 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].
