In short: Chebut is a Kenyan tea estate in Kapsabet, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency at an elevation of 1,989 metres, producing black tea.
Chebut is a tea estate located in the Kapsabet region of Kenya, situated at an elevation of 1,989 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the country's largest tea producer and manager of smallholder tea factory companies. Chebut produces black tea, the dominant category in Kenya's export-focused tea industry.
Terroir & Climate
At just under 2,000 metres and positioned almost exactly on the equator, Chebut occupies a high-altitude zone that typically experiences warm days and cool nights throughout the year. Estates at this elevation in western Kenya generally benefit from well-distributed rainfall and moderate temperatures, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and encourage the development of polyphenols and other compounds that contribute body and briskness to black tea.
The Kapsabet region lies in the Rift Valley highlands, an area where volcanic soils and consistent moisture generally support year-round plucking with minimal seasonal dormancy. The altitude and equatorial latitude together tend to produce a growing environment in which flavour development is sustained rather than concentrated into short seasonal peaks, a pattern often associated with Kenyan teas destined for blending in international markets.
Tea Produced
Chebut produces black tea, in line with Kenya's established manufacturing tradition of fully oxidised CTC leaf. Estates in this region and altitude band typically yield teas with bright, coppery liquor, notable briskness, and a clean, astringent profile that performs well in blends requiring strength and colour. The cup character of high-grown Kenyan blacks generally emphasises body and intensity over aromatic complexity, qualities valued by blenders for breakfast-style products and cost-effective retail blends in European and Middle Eastern markets.
Operator
The Kenya Tea Development Agency manages Chebut on behalf of smallholder farmers organised into factory companies, a cooperative model that has driven Kenya's rise to become one of the world's leading black tea exporters. KTDA provides agronomic support, processing infrastructure, and marketing services to its member growers. The agency operates six other estates recorded in this directory, reflecting its extensive footprint across Kenya's tea-growing regions and its central role in the country's tea supply chain.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
CHEBUT lies at 0.2030, 35.0978 in Kapsabet, Kenya. Its 1989 m elevation is the joint 94th highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- KAPTUMO — under 1 km away
- Kipchabo — under 1 km away · Kenya
- Nandi Tea Estates Limited, Mokong — under 1 km away · Nandi
- Nandi Tea Estates Limited, Reyna — under 1 km away · Nandi
- Nandi Tea Estates Limited, Taito — under 1 km away · Nandi
Estates at a Similar Altitude to CHEBUT
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match CHEBUT (1,989 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. CHEBUT recorded 1,710 mm in 2025, 13% more than the 1,511 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulindi Tea Factory | Mu Maya, Rwanda | 1,990 m | 1,131 mm | 22.2 °C |
| RAGATI | KARATINA, Kenya | 1,994 m | 1,085 mm | 20.5 °C |
| Sorwathe Tea Estate | Kimihurura, Rwanda | 1,995 m | 1,213 mm | 22.0 °C |
| BOITO | Kenya, Kenya | 1,998 m | 1,346 mm | 23.2 °C |
| Hubei Wuhan Jiarun Huiming Tea Co., Ltd. | Yongde County, China | 2,002 m | 2,779 mm | 19.9 °C |
CHEBUT Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, CHEBUT is wetter than 68% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 53% of the others by elevation; warmer than 55% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets CHEBUT against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | CHEBUT | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,989 m | 1,990 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,710 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.6 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.0 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at CHEBUT (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for CHEBUT’s coordinates recorded 1,710 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (230 mm) and the driest was February (5 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.6 °C and overnight lows 12.0 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,710 mm |
| Wettest month | April (230 mm) |
| Driest month | February (5 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is CHEBUT located?
CHEBUT is in Kapsabet, Kenya, at coordinates 0.2030, 35.0978, at an elevation of about 1989 metres.
Who operates CHEBUT?
CHEBUT is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does CHEBUT produce?
CHEBUT is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does CHEBUT receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,710 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (230 mm).
How does CHEBUT compare with estates at a similar elevation?
CHEBUT recorded 1,710 mm in 2025, 13% more rain than the 1,511 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].
