In short: Cheboswa is a black tea estate in the Kericho region of Kenya, operated by Unilever Tea Kenya and recorded as supplying the UK retailer Morrisons.
Cheboswa is a black tea estate situated in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an altitude of 2,010 metres. The estate is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, one of the country's major tea producers, and is recorded as supplying the UK supermarket chain Morrisons.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres above sea level, Cheboswa sits at a high elevation typical of Kenya's premier tea-growing zones in Kericho. Estates at this altitude generally experience cooler temperatures and significant diurnal variation, factors which tend to slow leaf maturation and can contribute to greater biochemical complexity in the plucked material. The equatorial latitude means consistent day length year-round, supporting continuous vegetative growth rather than the dormancy cycles seen in more seasonal climates.
Kericho's climate is characterised by reliable rainfall distributed across much of the year, interspersed with drier spells that typically allow for effective field operations. The combination of altitude, equatorial sunlight, and well-distributed precipitation generally supports vigorous, year-round cropping. Soils in this region tend to be volcanic in origin, often offering good drainage and a mineral profile that high-yielding tea cultivars can exploit efficiently.
Tea Produced
Cheboswa produces black tea, the dominant output of Kenyan estates supplying the global market. Teas from high-altitude Kericho gardens typically yield a bright, coppery liquor with brisk astringency and a clean, full-bodied character. The cup profile tends to exhibit the malty, slightly pungent notes associated with CTC-processed Kenyan leaf, though production methods at this specific estate have not been disclosed. Such teas are commonly valued for blending, particularly in breakfast-style infusions where strength and colour are priorities.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Cheboswa is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within a supply chain serving mass-market retail, where traceability, consistency, and volume are key procurement criteria. Unilever Tea Kenya's integration into Unilever's global tea business—historically encompassing brands such as Lipton and PG Tips—suggests that Cheboswa's output may also feed into broader corporate blending operations, though specific brand allocations are not publicly documented.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
Unilever Tea Kenya is a subsidiary of Unilever PLC, the multinational consumer goods corporation with long-standing involvement in East African tea cultivation and processing. The company operates a portfolio of estates in Kenya's prime growing regions; in addition to Cheboswa, six other Unilever Tea Kenya estates are recorded in this directory, reflecting the scale of the group's Kenyan production base.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
CHEBOSWA 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
- BONDET (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) — under 1 km away
- Bureti Tea Company Ltd, Kalyet Tea Factory — under 1 km away
- Chebown — under 1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to CHEBOSWA
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match CHEBOSWA (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. CHEBOSWA 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 |
CHEBOSWA Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, CHEBOSWA 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 CHEBOSWA against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | CHEBOSWA | 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 CHEBOSWA (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for CHEBOSWA’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 CHEBOSWA located?
CHEBOSWA is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates CHEBOSWA?
CHEBOSWA is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does CHEBOSWA produce?
CHEBOSWA is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does CHEBOSWA supply?
Public supplier disclosures record CHEBOSWA as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does CHEBOSWA receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).
How does CHEBOSWA compare with estates at a similar elevation?
CHEBOSWA 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].