Tombe Tea Factory

Tombe Tea Factory is a black tea estate located in the Nairobi region of Kenya, at an elevation of 2,076 metres. It is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, the smallholder cooperative body that manages much of Kenya's tea production infrastructure. The factory holds Ethical Tea Partnership certification.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,076 metres, Tombe sits in the high-altitude band where Kenyan tea estates typically experience cooler temperatures and a slower leaf maturation cycle. Estates at this elevation in equatorial East Africa generally benefit from moderate daytime warmth and cool nights, conditions that tend to encourage steady growth and can support the accumulation of polyphenols in the leaf.

The Nairobi region's proximity to the equator means relatively stable day length throughout the year, while rainfall patterns typically follow the long and short rains common to Kenya's central highlands. These conditions generally allow for year-round plucking, though growth rates tend to vary with the wet and dry cycles that characterise the area.

Tea Produced

Tombe produces black tea. Estates at this altitude in Kenya typically yield teas with brisk, astringent character and a bright, coppery liquor. High-elevation Kenyan black teas are often noted for their full body and clean, malty profile, qualities that tend to make them well-suited to blending as well as single-origin offerings. The cup profile generally reflects the slower maturation associated with cooler growing conditions at altitude.

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency operates Tombe Tea Factory and manages six other estates recorded in our directory. KTDA is the largest tea producer in Kenya, coordinating smallholder farmers through a network of factories and providing centralised processing, marketing, and export services. Its factories serve as collection and processing hubs for tea leaf grown by thousands of independent small-scale growers in their respective catchment areas.

Certifications & Ethics

Tombe holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that works to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions on tea estates and in smallholder operations. ETP certification indicates that the factory has undergone monitoring against standards covering labour rights, health and safety, and environmental stewardship, offering buyers a degree of assurance regarding working conditions and responsible production practices.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Tombe Tea Factory lies at -0.6557, 34.8751 in Nairobi, Kenya. Its 2076 m elevation is the 30th highest of 187 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Kenya Tea Development Agency, Sombogo — 11 km away · Kisii
• NYAMACHE — 11 km away · Kisii
• SANGANYI — 11 km away · Kebirigo
• Kenya Tea Development Agency, Nyansiongo — 11 km away · Kisii
• OGEMBO (EBEREGE) — 12 km away · Kisii

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Tombe Tea Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Tombe Tea Factory (2,076 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Tombe Tea Factory recorded 1,451 mm in 2025, 5% less than the 1,521 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
Welbeck Tea Estate	Tamil Nadu, India	2,077 m	1,583 mm	18.8 °C
Maramba Tea Factory Ltd	Limuru, Kenya	2,072 m	894 mm	21.7 °C
Happy valley	West Bengal, India	2,071 m	2,294 mm	17.1 °C
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Ndarugu	Kiambu, Kenya	2,081 m	1,300 mm	19.7 °C
TEZA	Muramvya, Burundi	2,118 m	1,533 mm	20.1 °C

Tombe Tea Factory Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, Tombe Tea Factory is drier than 54% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 84% of the others by elevation; cooler than 70% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Tombe Tea Factory against the 186 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	Tombe Tea Factory	Country median	Country range
Elevation	2,076 m	1,990 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,451 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	22.3 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	11.9 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at Tombe Tea Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Tombe Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,451 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (240 mm) and the driest was February (28 mm). Daytime highs averaged 22.3 °C and overnight lows 11.9 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,451 mm
Wettest month	April (240 mm)
Driest month	February (28 mm)
Mean daily high	22.3 °C
Mean overnight low	11.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Tombe Tea Factory located?

Tombe Tea Factory is in Nairobi, Kenya, at coordinates -0.6557, 34.8751, at an elevation of about 2076 metres.

Who operates Tombe Tea Factory?

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

What type of tea does Tombe Tea Factory produce?

Tombe Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.

What certifications does Tombe Tea Factory hold?

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

How much rain does Tombe Tea Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,451 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (240 mm).

How does Tombe Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Tombe Tea Factory recorded 1,451 mm in 2025, 5% less rain than the 1,521 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].