KIPSONOI

Kipsonoi is a tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an elevation of 2,054 metres. The estate is operated by Evergreen Tea Factory and produces black tea. It is known to supply Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,054 metres above sea level, Kipsonoi sits within the high-altitude band that characterises much of Kericho's tea-growing landscape. Estates at this elevation in equatorial Kenya typically experience moderated temperatures and significant diurnal variation, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and can encourage the development of nuanced flavour compounds. The altitude also generally correlates with higher levels of ultraviolet exposure, which is often associated with increased polyphenol concentration in the leaf.

Kericho's position just south of the equator means that estates in the region do not experience the pronounced seasonal dormancy seen in higher-latitude tea origins. Instead, the growing cycle tends to be influenced by the bimodal rainfall pattern common to this part of East Africa, with plucking typically possible year-round. The volcanic soils that predominate in the Kericho Highlands are generally well-drained and mineral-rich, factors that often support vigorous tea cultivation.

Tea Produced

Kipsonoi produces black tea, the dominant type manufactured across Kenya's high-altitude estates. Teas from Kericho grown at elevations above 2,000 metres typically yield a bright, coppery liquor with brisk astringency and a clean finish. The cup character often displays maltiness and a certain minerality, attributes that have made Kenyan blacks popular components in breakfast blends and in markets where strength and colour are valued. Estates in this region tend to produce leaf well suited to CTC processing, though the specific manufacturing methods employed at Kipsonoi are not documented here.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kipsonoi is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain for own-label tea products that reach a mass retail audience, a significant channel for Kenyan black tea. Supplying a major British retailer reflects both the estate's ability to meet the volume, quality, and traceability standards that such buyers typically require, and the continued importance of the UK market for Kenyan tea exports. While Morrisons is the only buyer documented here, it is common for estates of this scale to supply multiple customers across different markets.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Evergreen Tea Factory operates Kipsonoi and is recorded as managing one other estate listed in this directory. The operational structure suggests a modest-sized enterprise within Kenya's tea sector, which ranges from smallholder cooperatives to large multinational estates. Further details on the company's history, ownership, and total production capacity are not available in the verified record.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KIPSONOI lies at -0.1828, 35.4782 in Kericho, Kenya. Its 2054 m elevation is the 3rd highest of 44 estates we map in Kericho. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Lipton Teas and Infusions Kenya, Chagaik Tea Factory — 23 km away
• Mbogo Tea Factory — 23 km away · Kimatkei - Mbogo Valley Rd
• Kaisugu Tea Estate — 24 km away · Nairobi Rd
• Lipton Teas and Infusions Kenya, Kimugu Tea Factory — 25 km away
• Mau Tea Multipurpose Co-Operative Society Ltd, Tilya Tea Factory Co. Ltd (Mtmc) — 28 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KIPSONOI

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KIPSONOI (2,054 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KIPSONOI recorded 1,236 mm in 2025, 32% less than the 1,816 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
DUNSANDLE ESTATE	TAMIL NADU, India	2,054 m	1,941 mm	20.5 °C
Eastern Produce Of Kenya, Siret Tea Factory	Nandi, Kenya	2,055 m	1,973 mm	22.0 °C
KIPKOIMET (Kipkomet Factory)	Nandi Hills, Kenya	2,057 m	1,660 mm	22.0 °C
Happy valley	West Bengal, India	2,071 m	2,294 mm	17.1 °C
Sorwathe S.A.R.L.	Kinihira Sector, Rwanda	2,026 m	1,213 mm	22.0 °C

KIPSONOI Compared with Kericho

In Kericho, KIPSONOI is drier than 98% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 95% of the others by elevation; warmer than 93% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KIPSONOI against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	KIPSONOI	Region median	Region range
Elevation	2,054 m	2,010 m	1,836 to 2,437 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,236 mm	1,984 mm	1,021 to 1,984 mm
Mean daily high	23.0 °C	22.4 °C	20.5 to 25.1 °C
Mean overnight low	11.4 °C	11.8 °C	9.7 to 12.8 °C

Observed Climate at KIPSONOI (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KIPSONOI’s coordinates recorded 1,236 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (178 mm) and the driest was February (7 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.0 °C and overnight lows 11.4 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,236 mm
Wettest month	April (178 mm)
Driest month	February (7 mm)
Mean daily high	23.0 °C
Mean overnight low	11.4 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KIPSONOI located?

KIPSONOI is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.1828, 35.4782, at an elevation of about 2054 metres.

Who operates KIPSONOI?

KIPSONOI is operated by Evergreen Tea Factory, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does KIPSONOI produce?

KIPSONOI is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does KIPSONOI supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KIPSONOI as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does KIPSONOI receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,236 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (178 mm).

How does KIPSONOI compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KIPSONOI recorded 1,236 mm in 2025, 32% less rain than the 1,816 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].