In short: Masingi is a black tea estate in Kericho, Kenya, operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd and recorded as supplying Morrisons.
Masingi—also known as Chomogonday or Kymulot Tea—is a black tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an elevation of 2,010 metres. The property is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, one of the country's long-established tea producers. The estate is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres above sea level, Masingi sits well within the high-altitude band that characterises much of Kericho's tea country. Estates at this elevation in the Kenyan highlands typically experience cooler temperatures and a diurnal range that slows leaf maturation, often contributing to a concentration of flavour compounds. The region straddles the equator, and the combination of altitude and latitude generally supports year-round vegetative growth, though picking intensity tends to fluctuate with the bimodal rainfall pattern common to this part of East Africa.
Kericho's volcanic soils, well-distributed rainfall, and consistent cloud cover are widely regarded as conducive to tea cultivation. The altitude tends to moderate both heat stress and pest pressure, while the cooler nights can encourage the accumulation of polyphenols in the leaf. These conditions often result in a clean, brisk cup profile, though individual estate practices and processing methods introduce variation within the region.
Tea Produced
Masingi produces black tea. Kenyan high-grown blacks from estates at similar elevations in Kericho typically yield a bright, coppery liquor with brisk astringency and a clean, malty character. The cup profile common to this altitude and region tends toward medium to full body, with the brightness and colour strength that have made Kenyan teas widely valued in blends for both retail and foodservice markets.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Masingi is recorded as supplying Morrisons, indicating a presence in the UK retail supply chain. The estate's inclusion in a major supermarket programme suggests it meets the quality, traceability, and compliance standards that large grocery multiples require of their tea suppliers. While this relationship places Masingi within the competitive arena of own-label and branded black tea sourcing, publicly available records do not detail the volume, contract duration, or exclusivity of this supply arrangement.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
The estate is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, a subsidiary of the Finlays group with deep historical roots in Kenyan tea. James Finlay Kenya operates a portfolio of estates across the country's principal growing regions; in addition to Masingi, the company runs six other estates recorded in our directory, reflecting its position as one of the larger vertically integrated tea producers in Kenya.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) 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 MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) 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 |
MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) 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 MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) | 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 MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)’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 MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) located?
MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)?
MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) produce?
MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) supply?
Public supplier disclosures record MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).
How does MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) compare with estates at a similar elevation?
MASINGI (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) 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].