Rorok Factory

Rorok Factory is a black tea estate located on Kimare Road in Kenya, operating at an elevation of 1,999 metres above sea level. The estate is managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, a smallholder-focused organisation that coordinates production across multiple growing regions in the country. No specific buyers have been publicly recorded in available supply‑chain data.

Terroir & Climate

At just under 2,000 metres, Rorok Factory sits within the highland tea‑growing belt that characterises much of Kenya's central and western regions. Estates at this elevation typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lower‑altitude gardens, factors that tend to slow vegetative growth and encourage the development of flavour precursors in the leaf. The latitude—close to the equator—generally permits year‑round harvesting, though rainfall patterns and temperature fluctuations can shape flush intensity and leaf quality across the calendar.

The Kimare Road area lies within a zone where volcanic soils, moderate cloud cover and consistent moisture often combine to support the production of brisk, full‑bodied black teas. Estates in this altitudinal range are usually subject to warm days and cool nights, a rhythm that tends to preserve acidity and aromatic compounds in the fresh leaf before it reaches the withering trough.

Tea Produced

Rorok Factory produces black tea. Kenyan estates at comparable elevations typically yield teas with a bright, coppery liquor and a brisk, astringent character that suits blending and breakfast‑style infusions. The cup profile often shows malty or slightly fruity notes, with the body and colour that have made high‑grown Kenyan blacks a staple in international auction lots. While individual factory output varies with processing decisions and seasonal conditions, the altitude and regional climate generally favour teas with good strength and persistence.

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency manages smallholder tea production across the country, coordinating leaf collection, processing and marketing on behalf of thousands of independent growers. The agency operates Rorok Factory alongside six other estates recorded in this directory, reflecting its broad geographic footprint and its role as one of the largest actors in Kenya's smallholder tea sector. KTDA‑managed factories typically channel output through the Mombasa auction, serving both multinational blenders and regional buyers.

Certifications & Ethics

Rorok Factory holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi‑stakeholder initiative that monitors labour conditions, environmental practice and community welfare on member estates. ETP certification requires regular independent audits and signals to buyers a baseline commitment to responsible sourcing standards, including safe working conditions, fair wages and restrictions on child labour. For smallholder factories, membership often supports capacity‑building and traceability within complex, fragmented supply chains.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Rorok Factory lies at -0.5632, 35.3002 in Kimare Road, Kenya. Its 1999 m elevation is the 90th highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Siomo Tea Factory (Epz) Ltd — 5.4 km away · Bomet
• Kapset Tea Factory — 7.0 km away · Chepseon Boito-Kapset Rd Kipkelion
• BOITO — 7.1 km away · Kenya
• Kipchimchim Group, Tet Tea Factory Co. Ltd, Laibei — 9.6 km away · Kericho
• Evergreen Tea Factory Ltd (Egtf), Manaret — 12 km away · Bomet

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Rorok Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Rorok Factory (1,999 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Rorok Factory recorded 1,854 mm in 2025, 21% more than the 1,533 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
Hubei Wuhan Jiarun Huiming Tea Co., Ltd.	Yongde County, China	2,002 m	2,779 mm	19.9 °C
GACHEGE	Kenya, Kenya	2,003 m	1,455 mm	19.8 °C
Sorwathe Tea Estate	Kimihurura, Rwanda	1,995 m	1,213 mm	22.0 °C
RAGATI	KARATINA, Kenya	1,994 m	1,085 mm	20.5 °C
Mulindi Tea Factory	Mu Maya, Rwanda	1,990 m	1,131 mm	22.2 °C

Rorok Factory Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, Rorok Factory is wetter than 72% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 52% of the others by elevation; warmer than 55% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Rorok Factory against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	Rorok Factory	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,999 m	1,989 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,854 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	22.6 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	11.5 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at Rorok Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Rorok Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,854 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (276 mm) and the driest was February (25 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.6 °C and overnight lows 11.5 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,854 mm
Wettest month	April (276 mm)
Driest month	February (25 mm)
Mean daily high	22.6 °C
Mean overnight low	11.5 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Rorok Factory located?

Rorok Factory is in Kimare Road, Kenya, at coordinates -0.5632, 35.3002, at an elevation of about 1999 metres.

Who operates Rorok Factory?

Rorok Factory is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Rorok Factory produce?

Rorok Factory is recorded as producing black tea.

What certifications does Rorok Factory hold?

Rorok Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does Rorok Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,854 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (276 mm).

How does Rorok Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Rorok Factory recorded 1,854 mm in 2025, 21% more rain than the 1,533 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].