In short: Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru is a black tea estate in the Meru region of Kenya, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency and recorded as supplying Finlays.
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru is a black tea estate located in the Meru region of Kenya, at an altitude of 1,443 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, a statutory body that coordinates smallholder tea production across Kenya. Finlays is recorded as a buyer of tea from this estate.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,443 metres above sea level, Michimikuru occupies a mid-elevation site in the equatorial highlands of Meru, just north of the equator. Estates at this latitude and altitude typically experience a bimodal rainfall pattern with two distinct growing seasons per year, allowing for year-round production. The relatively moderate elevation—higher than lowland plains but below the high-altitude zones above 2,000 metres—tends to produce steady vegetative growth without the slower maturation cycles associated with cooler, high-altitude gardens.
The Meru region lies on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, where volcanic soils and consistent moisture generally favour tea cultivation. Daytime temperatures at this elevation are typically warm, with cool nights that can encourage flavour development in the leaf. Estates in this zone often benefit from well-distributed rainfall, though local microclimates and aspect can significantly influence growing conditions from site to site.
Tea Produced
Michimikuru produces black tea. Kenyan black teas from mid-elevation sites such as this typically yield a bright, coppery liquor with brisk astringency and a clean, assertive character. Teas from the Meru region often display the full-bodied profile and reddish infusion that have made Kenyan production a staple of the global blending market, though cup character varies with processing method, plucking standard, and seasonal conditions.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Michimikuru is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the world's largest tea and coffee businesses with a significant footprint in Kenya's tea sector. Finlays operates both its own estates and extensive out-grower networks, and sources from smallholder schemes coordinated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency. This supply relationship positions Michimikuru within a value chain that feeds international blending and packing operations, with Finlays acting as an aggregator and processor for teas destined for major retail and food-service brands globally.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
The Kenya Tea Development Agency is a state-backed organisation that manages tea production from hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers across Kenya, operating factory units and coordinating out-grower schemes. The Agency operates six other estates recorded in our directory, making it one of the most significant institutional players in Kenyan tea. Its model centres on pooling leaf from small-scale growers, processing it at centralised factories, and marketing the made tea through the Mombasa auction and direct contracts.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru lies at 0.1532, 37.8220 in Meru, Kenya. Its 1443 m elevation is the 180th highest of 187 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- IGEMBE (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) — 19 km away · Igembe South
- KIEGOI (Kiegoi \u0026 Igembe Factory) — 19 km away · Igembe South
- KIONYO — 22 km away · 710
- KOBEL — 22 km away · Kenya
- LELAGOIN — 22 km away · Rift Valley
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru (1,443 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, Michimikuru recorded 770 mm in 2025, 73% less than the 2,886 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogawantalawa Plantations, Campion | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,442 m | 2,792 mm | 21.8 °C |
| Chamong Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,445 m | 2,552 mm | 20.5 °C |
| Maskeliya Plantations, Ampttiakande | Uva Province, Sri Lanka | 1,447 m | 2,308 mm | 23.1 °C |
| Viriparai Super Tea Estate | Munnar, India | 1,452 m | 3,791 mm | 21.6 °C |
| Sinumbra Tea Estate | West Java, Indonesia | 1,431 m | 2,986 mm | 22.7 °C |
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru is drier than 93% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 96% of the others by elevation; warmer than 78% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru against the 186 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,443 m | 1,992 m | 821 to 2,790 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 770 mm | 1,518 mm | 754 to 2,070 mm |
| Mean daily high | 24.6 °C | 22.4 °C | 16.8 to 30.2 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.5 °C | 12.0 °C | 8.5 to 19.8 °C |
Observed Climate at Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru’s coordinates recorded 770 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was March (194 mm) and the driest was September (8 mm). Daytime highs averaged 24.6 °C and overnight lows 15.5 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 770 mm |
| Wettest month | March (194 mm) |
| Driest month | September (8 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 24.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru located?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru is in Meru, Kenya, at coordinates 0.1532, 37.8220, at an elevation of about 1443 metres.
Who operates Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru produce?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru is recorded as producing black tea.
Which buyers does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 770 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in March (194 mm).
How does Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Kenya Tea Development Agency, Michimikuru recorded 770 mm in 2025, 73% less rain than the 2,886 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].