In short: Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu is a black tea estate in the Kisii region of Kenya, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency and known to supply Finlays.
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu is a black tea estate located in the Kisii region of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,880 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, a significant player in Kenya's smallholder tea sector. It is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major tea and horticulture supplier with a substantial presence in African tea sourcing.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,880 metres above sea level and situated close to the equator, Rianyamwamu occupies an elevation where cooler temperatures and the diurnal range typically slow leaf maturation, often yielding a denser biochemical profile than estates at lower altitudes. The Kisii region generally experiences reliable rainfall distributed across two main seasons, conditions that tend to support year-round plucking cycles common to equatorial tea zones.
Rianyamwamu produces black tea. Estates in Kisii at this elevation typically yield a cup that balances briskness with body, often showing the assertive malty character and coppery brightness associated with high-altitude Kenyan production. Such leaf is generally suited to blending programmes that value strength and colour consistency, though cup profiles naturally vary by season and processing.
Tea Produced
Supply Chain & Market Position
Rianyamwamu is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated business with estates, blending facilities and direct relationships across the global tea trade. This connection suggests the estate's output is channelled into supply chains serving retail brands, foodservice and packet-tea programmes, particularly in markets where Kenyan black tea's colour and strength are valued. Such buyer relationships typically reflect consistent quality and logistical reliability.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, which manages smallholder tea factories and affiliated growing areas across Kenya's highlands. KTDA is one of the largest operators in our directory, with six other recorded estates, and plays a central role in the country's tea sector by aggregating leaf from small-scale growers, processing it at regional factories, and marketing the made tea through the Mombasa auction and direct-sale channels.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu lies at -0.7268, 34.7955 in Kisii, Kenya. Its 1880 m elevation is the 2nd highest of 7 estates we map in Kisii. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- OGEMBO (EBEREGE) — 4.8 km away
- Kenya Tea Development Agency, Nyansiongo — 5.7 km away
- Kenya Tea Development Agency, Sombogo — 5.8 km away
- NYAMACHE — 5.8 km away
- ITUMBE — 6.1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu (1,880 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu recorded 1,493 mm in 2025, 19% less than the 1,842 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imenti Tea Factory | Meru, Kenya | 1,883 m | 1,358 mm | 20.1 °C |
| Burnside Tea Estate | Tamil Nadu, India | 1,876 m | 1,459 mm | 20.2 °C |
| Kipkebe \u0026 Keritor Tea Estates | C22 Road, Kenya | 1,886 m | 1,351 mm | 24.8 °C |
| Agalawatte Plantations, Weddemulla | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,888 m | 2,522 mm | 19.7 °C |
| Kelanivalley Plantations, Fordyce | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,888 m | 2,522 mm | 19.7 °C |
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu Compared with Kisii
In Kisii, Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu is drier than 67% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 83% of the others by elevation; the coolest of the 7 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu against the 6 other estates we map in Kisii, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,880 m | 1,694 m | 1,652 to 1,890 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,493 mm | 1,556 mm | 1,370 to 1,586 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.8 °C | 24.6 °C | 24.1 to 25.1 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.2 °C | 14.6 °C | 13.7 to 15.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu’s coordinates recorded 1,493 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (253 mm) and the driest was February (38 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.8 °C and overnight lows 13.2 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,493 mm |
| Wettest month | April (253 mm) |
| Driest month | February (38 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 13.2 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu located?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu is in Kisii, Kenya, at coordinates -0.7268, 34.7955, at an elevation of about 1880 metres.
Who operates Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu produce?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,493 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (253 mm).
How does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Rianyamwamu recorded 1,493 mm in 2025, 19% less rain than the 1,842 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].