Chelimo

Chelimo is a tea estate in the Kericho region of Kenya, situated at an altitude of 2,010 metres. The estate is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya and is recorded as supplying Morrisons, the UK supermarket chain. Kericho is Kenya's principal tea-growing district, and Chelimo's elevation places it among the higher-altitude producers in the region.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,010 metres above sea level and positioned almost exactly on the equator, Chelimo occupies a growing environment that tends to combine high ultraviolet exposure with cooler night-time temperatures. Estates at this elevation in the East African highlands typically experience a slowed rate of vegetative growth, which can allow more time for the accumulation of polyphenols and other compounds in the leaf. The Kericho plateau generally benefits from bimodal rainfall patterns, with the altitude moderating daytime heat and encouraging mist formation that often reduces moisture stress during dry intervals.

The volcanic soils common to this part of the Rift Valley are typically well-drained and acidic, characteristics that suit Camellia sinensis var. assamica, the varietal most widely planted across Kenyan estates. This combination of elevation, equatorial light and volcanic substrate tends to favour consistent year-round cropping, though peak flush periods generally align with the onset of the long and short rains. The cooler temperatures at higher altitude can also contribute to a slower oxidation process during manufacture, which some producers exploit to develop particular flavour characteristics in black tea.

Tea Produced

Chelimo produces black tea. Estates in Kericho at similar elevations typically yield a bright, brisk cup with a coppery infusion and pronounced astringency. The style is generally well-suited to blending, particularly for breakfast formats, and the liquor tends to retain strength and colour when taken with milk. High-altitude Kenyan blacks often display a clean, direct character with less aromatics than teas from lower, warmer zones, though the best examples can offer a maltiness or slight fruitiness alongside the structure. The specific cup profile will vary with clone selection, plucking standard and processing detail, none of which are recorded here.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Chelimo is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain for own-label and branded retail tea, a segment that demands consistency, traceability and competitive pricing. Unilever Tea Kenya, as both estate operator and a major global tea packer, is well positioned to manage the vertical integration from field to shelf that such retail partnerships typically require.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Chelimo is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, the East African arm of Unilever's global tea division. Unilever Tea Kenya manages a portfolio of estates across the Kericho highlands; our directory records six other estates operated by the same company. This scale of operation affords centralised processing infrastructure, quality control systems and direct access to international buyers, advantages that are particularly significant in a market where much Kenyan tea is sold through the Mombasa auction. Unilever's presence in Kenya dates back decades and represents one of the largest single investments in the country's tea sector.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Chelimo 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 Chelimo

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Chelimo (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Chelimo 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

Chelimo Compared with Kericho

In Kericho, Chelimo 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 Chelimo against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Chelimo	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 Chelimo (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Chelimo’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 Chelimo located?

Chelimo is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.

Who operates Chelimo?

Chelimo is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Chelimo produce?

Chelimo is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Chelimo supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Chelimo as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does Chelimo receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).

How does Chelimo compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Chelimo 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].