In short: BONDET—also known as Chomogonday or Kymulot Tea—is a black tea estate at 2,010 metres in Kericho, Kenya, operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd and recorded as supplying Morrisons.
BONDET, also recorded under the names Chomogonday and Kymulot Tea, is a black tea estate situated at 2,010 metres above sea level in Kericho, Kenya. The estate is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, a long-established operator in the Kenyan highlands, and is recorded as a supplier to the British supermarket chain Morrisons.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres in the Kericho highlands, BONDET sits at an elevation that typically places estates above the lower cloud layer, in a zone where cooler daytime temperatures and strong equatorial light tend to slow vegetative growth. Estates at this altitude in Kericho generally experience diurnal temperature swings and well-distributed rainfall across the year, conditions that often encourage the accumulation of polyphenols and a more measured flush cycle than is seen at lower elevations.
The latitude—just south of the equator—means that seasonal variation in day length is minimal, and the growing cycle tends to be governed more by moisture patterns than by photoperiod. High-altitude Kericho estates often draw on deep volcanic soils, and the combination of elevation, UV exposure, and reliable precipitation is generally thought to favour leaf that yields a brisk, structured cup with good colour development.
Tea Produced
BONDET produces black tea. Estates in the Kericho highlands at or above 2,000 metres typically yield teas with a bright, coppery liquor, brisk astringency, and a clean, malty character. The elevation and UV exposure common to this zone tend to support teas that perform well in blends requiring body and colour, though cup profiles naturally vary with season, plucking standard, and processing decisions on the estate.
Supply Chain & Market Position
BONDET is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship positions the estate within the price-sensitive retail channel, where volume, consistency, and traceability are key procurement criteria. Supply to a large multiples retailer suggests that BONDET's output meets the food-safety, audit, and logistical standards required by mainstream British grocers, and that its black teas are deemed suitable for own-label blends or branded lines distributed through Morrisons' network.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
BONDET is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, a subsidiary of the wider James Finlay group, which has maintained tea operations in East Africa for over a century. James Finlay Kenya is one of the country's established plantation operators, managing estates across the Kericho highlands and maintaining long-standing relationships with international buyers. The company's infrastructure and agronomic expertise underpin the estate's ability to supply large-volume retail channels with traceable, audited tea.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) lies at -0.3689, 35.2863 in Kericho, Kenya. Its 2010 m elevation is the joint 7th highest of 44 estates we map in Kericho. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Changana (Changana Tea) — under 1 km away · Kenya
- Kitumbe (Kitumbe Tea) — under 1 km away · Kenya
- Bureti Tea Company Ltd, Kalyet Tea Factory — under 1 km away
- CHEBOSWA — under 1 km away
- Chebown — under 1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) recorded 1,984 mm in 2025, 14% more than the 1,737 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea Studio | Kattabettu, India | 2,010 m | 1,405 mm | 19.9 °C |
| Nyankoba Tea Factory | Kenya, Kenya | 2,012 m | 754 mm | 24.1 °C |
| Marybong Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 2,016 m | 2,294 mm | 17.7 °C |
| GACHEGE | Kenya, Kenya | 2,003 m | 1,455 mm | 19.8 °C |
| Hubei Wuhan Jiarun Huiming Tea Co., Ltd. | Yongde County, China | 2,002 m | 2,779 mm | 19.9 °C |
BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is drier than 81% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 93% of the others by elevation; cooler than 91% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 2,010 m | 2,010 m | 1,836 to 2,437 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,984 mm | 1,984 mm | 1,021 to 1,984 mm |
| Mean daily high | 22.4 °C | 22.4 °C | 20.5 to 25.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 11.8 °C | 11.8 °C | 9.7 to 12.8 °C |
Observed Climate at BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)’s coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (286 mm) and the driest was February (16 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.4 °C and overnight lows 11.8 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,984 mm |
| Wettest month | October (286 mm) |
| Driest month | February (16 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 22.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 11.8 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) located?
BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)?
BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd|James Finlay Kenya Ltd, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) produce?
BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) supply?
Public supplier disclosures record BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).
How does BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) compare with estates at a similar elevation?
BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) recorded 1,984 mm in 2025, 14% more rain than the 1,737 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].