Kapgwen

Kapgwen is a black tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, positioned at an altitude of 2,010 metres. The estate is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, one of the country's major tea producers. Kapgwen is recorded as supplying Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,010 metres above sea level, Kapgwen occupies high-altitude terrain in Kenya's principal tea-growing belt. Estates at this elevation in Kericho typically experience cooler temperatures and significant diurnal variation, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and can contribute to the development of more complex chemical profiles in the leaf. The region's equatorial latitude means that daylight hours remain relatively consistent throughout the year, while the elevation moderates what would otherwise be tropical heat.

Kericho's climate is generally characterised by reliable rainfall distributed across two main seasons, though patterns at any given elevation and aspect can vary. High-altitude estates in this zone often benefit from mist and cloud cover, which tends to reduce direct solar stress on the canopy. Soils in the region are typically volcanic in origin, a legacy of the Rift Valley's geology, and are generally well-draining with good organic content, conditions that favour the cultivation of Camellia sinensis.

Tea Produced

Kapgwen produces black tea. Kenyan high-grown blacks from estates at this altitude typically yield a brisk, bright cup with good colour and a clean, assertive character. Teas from the Kericho region are often noted for their strength and are widely used in blends destined for the UK and other markets where robust breakfast-style teas are favoured. The cooler growing conditions at elevations above 2,000 metres can support a balance of body and briskness, though individual cup profiles will vary with season, processing, and specific growing conditions.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kapgwen is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket retailers. This connection places the estate within a vertically integrated supply chain that links large-scale production in Kenya directly to a significant retail buyer in the UK. Unilever Tea Kenya's scale and Morrisons' status as a major grocery chain suggest that Kapgwen's output is destined for the mainstream retail tea market, likely contributing to own-label or branded blend products where consistency, volume, and competitive pricing are key purchasing criteria.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Kapgwen is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, a subsidiary of Unilever and a longstanding presence in Kenya's tea industry. Unilever Tea Kenya operates a portfolio of estates in the country; in addition to Kapgwen, six other estates under the same operator are recorded in our directory. This multi-estate structure allows for economies of scale in processing, logistics, and market access, and reflects the company's significant footprint in East African tea production.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kapgwen 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 Kapgwen

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

Kapgwen Compared with Kericho

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

Measure	Kapgwen	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 Kapgwen (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kapgwen’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 Kapgwen located?

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

Who operates Kapgwen?

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

What type of tea does Kapgwen produce?

Kapgwen is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kapgwen supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kapgwen as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does Kapgwen receive?

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

How does Kapgwen compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Kapgwen 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].