In short: Chebown is a black tea estate in Kericho, Kenya, operating at 2,010 metres under the management of Unilever Tea Kenya, with Morrisons recorded as a buyer.
Chebown is a tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, operating at an altitude of 2,010 metres. The estate is managed by Unilever Tea Kenya and produces black tea. It is recorded as a supplier to the British supermarket chain Morrisons.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres above sea level, Chebown occupies a high-altitude position within the Kericho tea belt, which straddles the equator in Kenya's western highlands. Estates at this elevation typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lower-lying gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf growth and can contribute to greater biochemical complexity in the plucked shoot.
The Kericho region generally receives well-distributed rainfall throughout much of the year, a pattern that supports near-continuous flushing in many gardens. High-altitude equatorial sites such as this often benefit from consistent cloud cover and moderate solar intensity, factors that may influence polyphenol accumulation and the balance between briskness and body in the processed leaf.
Tea Produced
Chebown produces black tea. Kenyan teas from high-altitude Kericho estates are typically processed as CTC (cut, tear, curl) grades, though some orthodox production exists in the region. Teas from this elevation and latitude often yield a bright, coppery liquor with brisk astringency and a clean, malty character. The cup profile common to Kericho growths tends toward strength and colour, attributes that have made the region a backbone supplier for blenders serving the breakfast and everyday tea segments.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Chebown is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within a direct supply chain to the British retail market, where Kenyan teas have long been valued for their consistency, colour, and blending versatility. Supplying a large-volume grocer suggests that Chebown's output meets the quality assurance and traceability standards required by modern British retailers, who increasingly seek transparency in their tea sourcing.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
The estate is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, a division of the multinational consumer goods company with extensive tea holdings in East Africa. Unilever Tea Kenya manages a total of seven estates recorded in this directory, including Chebown, making it one of the more significant corporate operators in the Kenyan tea sector. The company's scale and integration into global supply chains typically afford access to agronomic expertise, processing infrastructure, and established routes to international buyers.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Chebown 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
- CHEBOSWA — under 1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Chebown
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Chebown (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Chebown 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 |
Chebown Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, Chebown 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 Chebown against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Chebown | 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 Chebown (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Chebown’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 Chebown located?
Chebown is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates Chebown?
Chebown is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Chebown produce?
Chebown is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Chebown supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Chebown as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does Chebown receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).
How does Chebown compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Chebown 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].