KAPTUMO

Kaptumo is a tea estate located in the Kapsabet region of Kenya, operating at an elevation of 1,989 metres. The estate is managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, the smallholder cooperative structure that oversees a significant proportion of Kenya's tea production. No buyers for Kaptumo's output are currently recorded in publicly available supply-chain data.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,989 metres and situated almost precisely on the equator, Kaptumo occupies a high-altitude growing environment that typically shapes both the pace of the growing cycle and the character of the leaf. Estates at this elevation in Kenya generally experience cooler nights and intense equatorial daylight, conditions that tend to slow vegetative growth and can encourage the accumulation of flavour compounds in the leaf. The diurnal temperature variation common to such altitudes often promotes a more measured flush cycle compared to lower-elevation gardens.

The Kapsabet area lies within the western highlands of Kenya, a region where rainfall patterns and volcanic soils have historically supported tea cultivation. Estates in this part of the country typically benefit from well-distributed precipitation and good drainage, factors that tend to influence both yield stability and cup quality. The interplay of altitude, latitude and local microclimate generally defines the agronomic rhythms of gardens in this zone, though specific soil composition and aspect vary from site to site.

Tea Produced

Kaptumo produces black tea. Kenyan high-grown blacks from estates at comparable elevations typically yield a brisk, coppery liquor with pronounced body and a clean astringency. The altitude and equatorial light regime in this region tend to favour teas with good colour, strength and a characteristic brightness in the cup—qualities that have long made Kenyan production attractive to blenders seeking structure and consistency. While individual garden character depends on processing choices and seasonal variation, teas from the western highlands generally offer a forthright, malty profile with moderate to strong tannin presence.

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency manages smallholder tea production across multiple regions of Kenya, coordinating leaf collection, processing and marketing on behalf of small-scale growers. KTDA operates a network of factories and estates; in addition to Kaptumo, six other estates managed by the agency are recorded in this directory. The cooperative model has been central to Kenya's position as one of the world's leading black tea exporters, providing infrastructure and market access to thousands of individual farmers.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KAPTUMO 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:

• CHEBUT — 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 KAPTUMO

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KAPTUMO (1,989 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KAPTUMO 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

KAPTUMO Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, KAPTUMO 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 KAPTUMO against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	KAPTUMO	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 KAPTUMO (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KAPTUMO’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 KAPTUMO located?

KAPTUMO is in Kapsabet, Kenya, at coordinates 0.2030, 35.0978, at an elevation of about 1989 metres.

Who operates KAPTUMO?

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

What type of tea does KAPTUMO produce?

KAPTUMO is recorded as producing black tea.

How much rain does KAPTUMO receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,710 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (230 mm).

How does KAPTUMO compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KAPTUMO 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].