In short: KIEGOI (Kiegoi & Igembe Factory) is a black tea estate in Igembe South, Kenya, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency and recorded as supplying Morrisons.
KIEGOI—comprising the Kiegoi and Igembe Factory operations—is a black tea estate located in Igembe South, Kenya, at an elevation of 1,008 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, the management body for Kenya's smallholder tea sector, and is recorded as supplying Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,008 metres and positioned almost directly on the equator, KIEGOI occupies a mid-altitude zone where estates in Kenya typically experience warm, consistent temperatures year-round. This latitude and elevation combination generally supports steady vegetative growth, with rainfall patterns rather than temperature dictating the intensity of the plucking cycle. Estates in this elevation band often benefit from reliable moisture without the cooler night temperatures characteristic of Kenya's higher-altitude districts.
Igembe South lies on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya's wider catchment, where soils tend to be volcanic in origin and the microclimate is shaped by proximity to the mountain's moisture corridors. Estates at this altitude in central Kenya generally produce leaf that develops quickly, with the warmer conditions typically favouring robust biochemical activity during withering and fermentation.
Tea Produced
KIEGOI produces black tea. Estates at around 1,000 metres in Kenya's equatorial belt typically yield a full-bodied cup with brisk, malty character and a copper-red infusion. The mid-altitude profile generally favours strength and colour over the more complex aromatics often associated with higher-elevation leaf, making such teas well suited to blending for breakfast formats and for buyers seeking consistent, robust character in volume production.
Supply Chain & Market Position
KIEGOI is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain for own-label and branded retail tea destined for the British market, where Kenyan black tea is a staple blending component. The presence of a major UK retailer as a documented buyer suggests that KIEGOI's output meets the quality, traceability and volume requirements of large-scale retail procurement, a position typical of estates managed under the Kenya Tea Development Agency's smallholder network.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, the parastatal management organisation responsible for coordinating tea production, processing and marketing on behalf of Kenya's smallholder growers. The Agency manages a network of factories and collection centres across the country's tea-growing regions. KTDA operates six other estates currently listed in this directory, reflecting its broad footprint in Kenya's decentralised tea sector.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) lies at 0.1547, 37.9891 in Igembe South, Kenya. Its 1008 m elevation is the joint 182nd highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- IGEMBE (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) — under 1 km away
- Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru — 19 km away · Meru
- KIONYO — 22 km away · 710
- KOBEL — 22 km away · Kenya
- LELAGOIN — 22 km away · Rift Valley
Estates at a Similar Altitude to KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory)
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) (1,008 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) recorded 1,042 mm in 2025, 67% less than the 3,155 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vellaioya Estate | Avissawella - Hatton - Nuwara Eliya Hwy, Sri Lanka | 1,008 m | 4,627 mm | 24.2 °C |
| Goomtee Tea Estate | Darjeeling, India | 1,010 m | 2,805 mm | 22.5 °C |
| Harangala | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,011 m | 4,013 mm | 24.0 °C |
| Singbulli Tea Estate | Singbulli Tea Garden, India | 1,000 m | 2,805 mm | 22.6 °C |
| Namingomba Tea Estates Limited | Thyolo, Malawi | 1,022 m | 1,525 mm | 24.1 °C |
KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 98% of the others by elevation; warmer than 98% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe 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 | KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,008 m | 1,990 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,042 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 26.7 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.4 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory)’s coordinates recorded 1,042 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was July (152 mm) and the driest was February (12 mm). Daytime highs averaged 26.7 °C and overnight lows 18.4 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,042 mm |
| Wettest month | July (152 mm) |
| Driest month | February (12 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 26.7 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.4 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) located?
KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) is in Igembe South, Kenya, at coordinates 0.1547, 37.9891, at an elevation of about 1008 metres.
Who operates KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory)?
KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) produce?
KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) supply?
Public supplier disclosures record KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,042 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in July (152 mm).
How does KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) compare with estates at a similar elevation?
KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) recorded 1,042 mm in 2025, 67% less rain than the 3,155 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].
