RWAKA

RWAKA is a tea estate situated in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an elevation of 2,010 metres. The estate is operated by Unilever Tea Kenya, one of the largest plantation holders in the country, and is recorded as supplying Morrisons, the UK supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,010 metres above sea level, RWAKA occupies high-altitude terrain on the equatorial highlands of western Kenya. Estates at this elevation in Kericho typically experience a cool, moderated climate with reliable rainfall distributed across two main wet seasons, allowing for year-round harvesting. The altitude tends to slow the growth of the tea bush, often resulting in smaller leaves with concentrated chemical compounds.

The equatorial latitude means that day length remains relatively constant throughout the year, while the elevation moderates diurnal temperature swings. These conditions generally favour the development of polyphenols and amino acids in the leaf. Kericho's volcanic soils, common to much of the region, tend to offer good drainage and mineral content, factors that often contribute to the briskness and body associated with high-grown Kenyan teas.

Tea Produced

RWAKA produces black tea. Estates in Kericho at comparable elevations typically yield teas with a bright, coppery liquor and a brisk, assertive character. The cup profile often features a clean astringency and good body, qualities that have made high-altitude Kenyan black teas popular for blending in everyday tea bags as well as for standalone breakfast-style infusions. The flavour tends toward malty and slightly crisp notes, though individual lots will vary with season, plucking standard, and processing.

Supply Chain & Market Position

RWAKA is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain for own-label retail tea, a segment that demands consistent quality, traceability, and volume. Supplying a major UK grocer signals that the estate meets the standards required for mainstream consumer markets, where Kenyan black tea is a staple ingredient in blended tea bags.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Unilever Tea Kenya operates RWAKA as part of a portfolio that includes six other estates in our directory. As one of the largest multinational operators in Kenya's tea sector, Unilever Tea Kenya manages extensive plantation acreage and production infrastructure across the country's high-altitude growing regions. The company supplies both its own global brands and third-party buyers, maintaining a significant presence in the East African tea industry.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

RWAKA 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 RWAKA

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

RWAKA Compared with Kericho

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

Measure	RWAKA	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 RWAKA (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for RWAKA’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 RWAKA located?

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

Who operates RWAKA?

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

What type of tea does RWAKA produce?

RWAKA is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does RWAKA supply?

Public supplier disclosures record RWAKA as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does RWAKA receive?

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

How does RWAKA compare with estates at a similar elevation?

RWAKA 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].