In short: Kiamokama is a Kenyan tea estate in Keroka, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency at an altitude of 2,059 metres, and recorded as supplying Morrisons.
Kiamokama is a tea estate located in the Keroka area of Kenya, situated at an altitude of 2,059 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the co-operative body that manages smallholder tea production across much of Kenya's highlands. The estate is recorded as supplying Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.
Terroir & Climate
At just over 2,000 metres above sea level, Kiamokama occupies a high-altitude site within Kenya's elevated tea-growing zones. Estates at this elevation typically experience cooler temperatures and more pronounced diurnal variation than lower-lying gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and can encourage the accumulation of polyphenols and other compounds that contribute to briskness and body in the cup.
Keroka lies in the southwestern highlands of Kenya, a region that generally receives well-distributed rainfall across much of the year. These conditions, combined with volcanic soils common to many Kenyan tea districts, tend to support vigorous growth and the production of the bright, coppery liquors for which Kenyan black teas are internationally recognised. The equatorial latitude means that seasonal variation is less pronounced than in more temperate tea regions, though local microclimates and the estate's specific elevation will influence the growing cycle.
Tea Produced
Kiamokama produces black tea. Kenyan estates at this altitude typically yield teas with a characteristic briskness, full body, and bright, coppery colour in the cup. The profile is generally clean and robust, with the punchy astringency and malty depth that have made Kenyan CTC production a staple of East African blends and a consistent presence in mainstream British tea brands. Estates in this region often produce leaf well suited to breakfast blends and other applications where strength and colour are valued.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Kiamokama is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This connection places the estate within a supply chain serving the mass-market retail sector, where Kenyan black tea is a longstanding component of own-label blends. The presence of a large British retailer as a recorded buyer indicates that Kiamokama's output meets the volume, consistency, and food-safety standards required for supermarket private-label tea products, which typically draw on multiple origins and estates to achieve a uniform blend profile.
- Recorded supplier to Morrisons
Operator
The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, the umbrella organisation that manages tea factories and co-ordinates smallholder production across Kenya's highlands. KTDA operates a model in which small-scale farmers deliver fresh leaf to centralised factories for processing, with the agency handling production, quality control, and auction sales. The agency operates six other estates recorded in this directory, reflecting its dominant role in Kenya's tea sector and its influence on the country's position as one of the world's leading black tea exporters.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
KIAMOKAMA lies at -0.7771, 34.9458 in Keroka, Kenya. Its 2059 m elevation is the 33rd highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Tombe Tea Factory — 16 km away · Nairobi
- Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu — 18 km away · Kisii
- ITUMBE — 18 km away · Kisii
- Sasini Plc., Kipkebe Tea Factory — 19 km away · Kericho
- Kenya Tea Development Agency, Eberege — 19 km away · Kisii
Estates at a Similar Altitude to KIAMOKAMA
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KIAMOKAMA (2,059 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KIAMOKAMA recorded 1,210 mm in 2025, 33% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIPKOIMET (Kipkomet Factory) | Nandi Hills, Kenya | 2,057 m | 1,660 mm | 22.0 °C |
| Eastern Produce Of Kenya, Siret Tea Factory | Nandi, Kenya | 2,055 m | 1,973 mm | 22.0 °C |
| DUNSANDLE ESTATE | TAMIL NADU, India | 2,054 m | 1,941 mm | 20.5 °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 |
KIAMOKAMA Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, KIAMOKAMA is drier than 68% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 83% of the others by elevation; warmer than 66% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KIAMOKAMA against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | KIAMOKAMA | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 2,059 m | 1,989 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,210 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.5 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.6 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at KIAMOKAMA (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KIAMOKAMA’s coordinates recorded 1,210 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (190 mm) and the driest was February (24 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.5 °C and overnight lows 12.6 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,210 mm |
| Wettest month | October (190 mm) |
| Driest month | February (24 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.5 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.6 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is KIAMOKAMA located?
KIAMOKAMA is in Keroka, Kenya, at coordinates -0.7771, 34.9458, at an elevation of about 2059 metres.
Who operates KIAMOKAMA?
KIAMOKAMA is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does KIAMOKAMA produce?
KIAMOKAMA is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does KIAMOKAMA supply?
Public supplier disclosures record KIAMOKAMA as supplying Morrisons.
How much rain does KIAMOKAMA receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,210 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (190 mm).
How does KIAMOKAMA compare with estates at a similar elevation?
KIAMOKAMA recorded 1,210 mm in 2025, 33% 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].
