KANYENYAINI

Kanyenyaini is a tea estate in Kangema, central Kenya, situated at an elevation of 1,899 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency and produces black tea. It is known to supply Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,899 metres above sea level, Kanyenyaini sits within the altitude band that typically defines Kenya's higher-elevation smallholder zones. Estates at this elevation in central Kenya generally experience cooler temperatures and often significant diurnal variation, conditions that tend to slow leaf growth and can contribute to a denser accumulation of flavour compounds. The Kangema area lies near the Aberdare Range, where volcanic soils and reliable rainfall patterns are common, though the specific soil composition and microclimate at Kanyenyaini have not been disclosed.

Kenyan estates at this latitude, just south of the equator, typically enjoy year-round growing conditions with two principal flush periods often aligned with the long and short rains. Elevation of this kind generally favours a slower maturation of the leaf, which estates in similar settings tend to associate with greater body and briskness in the processed tea, though individual results vary according to crop management and processing protocols.

Tea Produced

Kanyenyaini produces black tea. Estates in the Kangema area at comparable elevations typically yield teas with the brisk, bright character for which Kenyan high-grown blacks are known in the commodity and blending markets. Cups from this altitude range often show coppery liquor, pronounced astringency, and a clean, malty backbone, attributes that tend to perform well in breakfast blends and afford good colour and strength. Individual leaf grades and processing variations will, of course, influence the final cup, but the regional and elevation profile generally supports a robust, full-bodied style.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kanyenyaini is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This connection places the estate within the supply web serving the British retail tea market, where Kenyan origin is a mainstay of own-label breakfast and everyday blends. The presence of a major high-street retailer among the estate's known buyers suggests that at least a portion of its output meets the quality, traceability, and consistency standards required for branded and own-label products in a competitive retail environment.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), which manages smallholder tea production across much of Kenya's highlands. KTDA coordinates leaf collection, processing, and marketing on behalf of thousands of small-scale growers organised into factory-centred cooperatives. The agency operates six other estates recorded in this directory, reflecting its central role in Kenya's tea sector and its influence over a significant share of the country's marketed crop.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KANYENYAINI lies at -0.6792, 36.9156 in KANGEMA, Kenya. Its 1899 m elevation is the 120th highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• GATUNGURU — 4.8 km away · Mathioya
• Kanyenya-Ini Tea Factory Company Ltd — 5.9 km away
• Chinga Tea Factory — 8.7 km away · Othaya
• Gacharage Tea Factory — 9.2 km away · Gacharage
• Ikumbi Tea Factory — 12 km away · Kaharati-kangari Rd

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KANYENYAINI

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KANYENYAINI (1,899 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KANYENYAINI recorded 1,518 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 1,495 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
MUSHUBI	GICUMBI, Rwanda	1,899 m	1,186 mm	22.7 °C
Cangyuan Rangsai Tea Cooperative	36 Jian Gong Building Dong Feng Dong Road, China	1,898 m	1,823 mm	20.7 °C
Himalayan Tea Producers Cooperative Ltd.	LN Road 32, Nepal	1,895 m	2,180 mm	18.5 °C
Emrok	Kitale, Kenya	1,893 m	1,221 mm	24.7 °C
Chebango	Silibwet - Kapsoiyo - Kapsimotwa Rd, Kenya	1,906 m	1,067 mm	24.4 °C

KANYENYAINI Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, KANYENYAINI is wetter than 50% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 64% of the others by elevation; cooler than 88% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KANYENYAINI against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	KANYENYAINI	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,899 m	1,990 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,518 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	20.9 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	12.5 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at KANYENYAINI (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KANYENYAINI’s coordinates recorded 1,518 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (225 mm) and the driest was February (16 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.9 °C and overnight lows 12.5 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,518 mm
Wettest month	October (225 mm)
Driest month	February (16 mm)
Mean daily high	20.9 °C
Mean overnight low	12.5 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KANYENYAINI located?

KANYENYAINI is in KANGEMA, Kenya, at coordinates -0.6792, 36.9156, at an elevation of about 1899 metres.

Who operates KANYENYAINI?

KANYENYAINI is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does KANYENYAINI produce?

KANYENYAINI is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does KANYENYAINI supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KANYENYAINI as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does KANYENYAINI receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,518 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (225 mm).

How does KANYENYAINI compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 1,495 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 1,518 mm at KANYENYAINI.

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].