In short: SISIBA (also known as Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is a black tea estate in Kericho, Kenya, operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd and recorded as supplying Morrisons.
SISIBA—also referred to as Chomogonday or Kymulot Tea—is a black tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an elevation of 2,010 metres. It is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, one of the country's established plantation firms. The estate is recorded as supplying Morrisons, the UK supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres above sea level and situated just south of the equator, SISIBA occupies terrain characteristic of Kenya's high-altitude tea belt. Estates at this elevation in Kericho typically experience moderate temperatures year-round, with warm days and cool nights that slow leaf growth and can contribute to more concentrated flavour compounds. The altitude also tends to bring reliable rainfall distributed across much of the year, supporting steady vegetative cycles.
The cooler microclimate at this elevation generally reduces the rate of photosynthesis and nutrient uptake compared to lowland gardens, which can result in slower-growing leaf with denser cellular structure. These conditions are often associated with the briskness and body for which Kenyan high-grown teas are known in commodity and retail markets, though specific outcomes depend on clone selection, pruning cycles, and processing.
Tea Produced
SISIBA produces black tea, the dominant style across Kericho's commercial estates. High-altitude Kenyan blacks from this region typically yield a bright, coppery liquor with brisk astringency and full body—qualities that perform well in blends and bagged formats. The cup character tends toward malty or slightly grassy notes, with the clean, punchy profile that has made Kenyan CTC and orthodox leaf a staple in British and international breakfast blends.
Supply Chain & Market Position
SISIBA's recorded buyer is Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship positions the estate within a vertically coordinated supply chain serving the branded retail segment, where traceability, consistent quality, and volume reliability are purchasing priorities. Supplying a large UK grocer indicates that SISIBA's output meets the food-safety, ethical-audit, and organoleptic standards required for own-label or branded shelf products in a competitive market.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
James Finlay Kenya Ltd is the operating company behind SISIBA. Finlay is a long-established name in Kenyan tea, with roots in the colonial plantation economy and a modern identity as a large-scale grower and exporter. The company operates six other estates recorded in our directory, making it one of the more significant multi-estate operators in the country and a material supplier to international buyers seeking scale and agronomic consistency.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
SISIBA (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 SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match SISIBA (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. SISIBA (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 |
SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, SISIBA (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 SISIBA (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 | SISIBA (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 SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for SISIBA (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 SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) located?
SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea)?
SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is operated by James Finlay Kenya Ltd, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) produce?
SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) supply?
Public supplier disclosures record SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does SISIBA (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 SISIBA (Chomogonday / Kymulot Tea) compare with estates at a similar elevation?
SISIBA (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].