In short: Kipsigis Highlands Factory is a black tea estate in Kericho, Kenya, operating at 2,010 metres altitude under its own name.
Kipsigis Highlands Factory is a tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, operating at an altitude of 2,010 metres. The estate is operated under the name Kipsigis Highlands Factory and produces black tea. No recorded supply relationships or buyer information is currently available in public trade records.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres above sea level, Kipsigis Highlands Factory sits well within the high-altitude band that characterises much of Kericho's tea-growing landscape. Estates at this elevation in Kenya typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lower-altitude gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and can contribute to greater biochemical complexity in the harvested material. The Kericho region straddles the equator and generally receives well-distributed rainfall across much of the year, a pattern that often supports near-continuous vegetative growth.
High-altitude equatorial sites such as this one tend to produce leaf with moderate to high polyphenol content, characteristics often associated with brisk, full-bodied infusions in black tea manufacture. The combination of elevation, latitude, and the volcanic soils common to the Kenyan highlands generally favours vigorous growth, though yields and quality can vary significantly with seasonal rainfall patterns and field management practices specific to each estate.
Tea Produced
Kipsigis Highlands Factory produces black tea. Kenyan black teas from high-altitude Kericho estates typically yield bright, coppery infusions with a brisk, astringent character and full body. The cup profile often shows malty or slightly fruity notes, with a clean, assertive finish that makes these teas well-suited to blending as well as single-origin offerings. Teas from this elevation band tend to exhibit the pronounced strength and colour that have made Kenyan leaf a staple in breakfast blends and cut-tear-curl formats, though specific manufacturing choices at the factory level will ultimately determine the final character of the made tea.
Operator
The estate is operated by Kipsigis Highlands Factory. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in public directories.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory 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 Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory 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 |
Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory 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 Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory | 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 Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory’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 Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory located?
Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory?
Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory is operated by Kipsigis Highlands Factory, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory produce?
Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).
How does Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kipsigis\u00a0Highlands\u00a0Factory 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].
