In short: WERU is a tea estate in Kericho, Kenya, at 2,010 metres, operated by Weru Tea Factory (KTDA LTD) and producing black tea.
WERU is a tea estate located in the Kericho region of Kenya, at an altitude of 2,010 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Weru Tea Factory (KTDA LTD), a member of the Kenya Tea Development Agency network. The operation produces black tea, and no public records of specific buyer relationships are currently available.
Terroir & Climate
At 2,010 metres, WERU occupies a high-altitude site within the Kericho tea zone, which straddles the equator at approximately 0.37°S. Estates at this elevation in the East African highlands typically experience moderate temperatures and consistent daylight throughout the year, conditions that tend to encourage steady vegetative growth while producing slower leaf maturation. The combination of equatorial latitude and significant altitude generally results in a growing environment with reduced diurnal temperature variation compared to higher-latitude zones, though cooler nights at this elevation can still influence metabolic processes in the leaf.
Kericho's climate is characterised by reliable bimodal rainfall, with estates in the region often experiencing long rains from March to May and short rains from October to December. This pattern typically supports near-continuous plucking cycles, though the intensity of flush varies seasonally. Soils in this part of the Rift Valley highlands are generally volcanic in origin, which tends to provide good drainage and a nutrient profile that supports robust tea cultivation. The high altitude typically moderates disease pressure while fostering conditions that can encourage the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the leaf.
Tea Produced
WERU produces black tea, the dominant style manufactured in Kenya's Kericho region. Teas from estates at this altitude and latitude typically exhibit a brisk, bright character with good colour and body, qualities that have made Kenyan black tea widely used in blends for both retail and foodservice markets. High-altitude Kericho production often tends towards a clean, astringent cup with moderate maltiness, though specific flavour profiles depend heavily on plucking standards, withering conditions, and oxidation management at the factory level. The equatorial growing environment generally supports a consistent leaf chemistry, which can contribute to reliability in commercial processing.
Operator
Weru Tea Factory (KTDA LTD) operates this estate as part of the Kenya Tea Development Agency structure, a smallholder-cooperative model that processes leaf from member farmers. KTDA operates over sixty factories across Kenya's tea-growing regions, providing centralised processing, quality control, and market access for small-scale growers. While no sibling estates under the same factory name appear in the current directory, the broader KTDA network represents a significant share of Kenya's total tea output.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
WERU 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 WERU
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match WERU (2,010 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. WERU 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 |
WERU Compared with Kericho
In Kericho, WERU 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 WERU against the 43 other estates we map in Kericho, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | WERU | 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 WERU (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for WERU’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 WERU located?
WERU is in Kericho, Kenya, at coordinates -0.3689, 35.2863, at an elevation of about 2010 metres.
Who operates WERU?
WERU is operated by Weru Tea Factory (KTDA LTD), according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does WERU produce?
WERU is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does WERU receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,984 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (286 mm).
How does WERU compare with estates at a similar elevation?
WERU 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].
