Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone

Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone is a black tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an altitude of 2,437 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, a smallholder co-operative structure that manages tea production across multiple sites in Kenya's principal growing regions. It is known to supply Finlays, a major international tea packer and distributor.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,437 metres, Olenguruone sits at a notably high elevation for tea cultivation, well above the typical range for most of the world's tea-growing regions. Estates at this altitude in equatorial Kenya generally benefit from intense solar radiation tempered by cooler temperatures and a substantial diurnal range, conditions that tend to slow leaf growth and can encourage the accumulation of secondary metabolites associated with flavour complexity. The region's proximity to the equator typically permits year-round vegetative growth, though rainfall distribution and local microclimates often create distinct flush cycles.

Kericho is recognised globally as one of Kenya's premium tea-growing districts, characterised by volcanic soils, consistent moisture from orographic rainfall, and elevations that range from the mid-highlands into true high-altitude zones. Estates in this region generally experience reliable precipitation and moderate temperatures that favour the continuous cultivation of tea without the pronounced winter dormancy seen in more temperate zones. These conditions tend to yield a growing environment conducive to the production of bright, brisk black teas with characteristic body.

Tea Produced

Olenguruone produces black tea. High-altitude Kenyan estates in Kericho typically yield teas with a bright, coppery liquor and a brisk, full-bodied character. The cup profile from this elevation and region often displays pronounced astringency, a clean, malty backbone, and the kind of strength and colour that have made Kenyan black teas a staple in blends destined for breakfast and everyday consumption. While individual lot character varies with plucking standard, processing rigour, and seasonal conditions, teas from this altitude generally show good brightness and a robust, straightforward flavour that performs well in both blends and as a single-origin offering.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Olenguruone is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with operations spanning production, blending, packing, and distribution across global markets. Finlays sources extensively from East Africa, and its procurement from estates such as Olenguruone reflects the company's reliance on Kenyan origin for volume, consistency, and the brisk cup profile that underpins many of its blended products. The presence of Finlays as a known buyer suggests that Olenguruone's output is integrated into commercial supply chains serving retail brands, foodservice, and private-label markets, particularly in Europe and the Middle East where Kenyan tea commands significant market share.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is the largest manager of smallholder tea production in Kenya, operating as a co-operative structure that provides factory processing, extension services, and market access to tens of thousands of small-scale growers. KTDA manages multiple tea estates and factories across Kenya's key growing regions, and in our directory it is recorded as the operator of six other estates in addition to Olenguruone. This model places the agency at the centre of Kenya's tea sector, handling a substantial proportion of the country's annual production and linking smallholder farmers to international buyers and auction platforms.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone lies at -0.5968, 35.6314 in Kericho, Kenya. Its 2437 m elevation is the highest of 44 estates we map in Kericho. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Chemusian Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Nakuru
• TINET — under 1 km away · Olenguruone
• Kiptagich Tea Factory Company Ltd — 4.2 km away · Nakuru
• TACHASIS — 7.9 km away · OLENGURUONE
• Kisyet Tea Limited — 26 km away · Bomet

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone (2,437 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone recorded 1,382 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 1,376 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
RUBAYA	Kabaya, Rwanda	2,379 m	1,199 mm	18.1 °C
NSHILI KIVU	Kigali, Rwanda	2,372 m	1,382 mm	18.6 °C
KIPSINENDE	Iten, Kenya	2,361 m	1,056 mm	20.5 °C
Werraka	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	2,302 m	1,148 mm	22.6 °C
CHUNDAVURRAI	Kannan Devan Hills, India	2,299 m	2,094 mm	17.9 °C

Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone Compared with Kericho

In Kericho, Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone is drier than 95% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the highest of the 44 estates by elevation; the coolest of the 44 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone	Region median	Region range
Elevation	2,437 m	2,010 m	1,836 to 2,114 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,382 mm	1,984 mm	1,021 to 1,984 mm
Mean daily high	20.5 °C	22.4 °C	22.0 to 25.1 °C
Mean overnight low	9.7 °C	11.8 °C	11.4 to 12.8 °C

Observed Climate at Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone’s coordinates recorded 1,382 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (182 mm) and the driest was February (5 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.5 °C and overnight lows 9.7 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,382 mm
Wettest month	October (182 mm)
Driest month	February (5 mm)
Mean daily high	20.5 °C
Mean overnight low	9.7 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone located?

Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.5968, 35.6314, at an elevation of about 2437 metres.

Who operates Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone?

Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone produce?

Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,382 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (182 mm).

How does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 1,376 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 1,382 mm at Kenya Tea Development Agency, Olenguruone.

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].