GITHONGO

Githongo is a tea estate located in the Moi Avenue region of Kenya, operating at an elevation of 1,670 metres. The estate is managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the country's principal smallholder tea organisation. The estate produces black tea, though no buyer relationships are recorded in publicly available supply-chain disclosures.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,670 metres elevation and positioned close to the equator, Githongo occupies a mid-altitude growing zone that typically experiences consistent temperatures and reliable rainfall distribution throughout the year. Estates at this elevation in Kenya generally benefit from warm days and cool nights, conditions that tend to support steady vegetative growth and encourage the accumulation of polyphenols and amino acids in the leaf.

The Moi Avenue region, like much of Kenya's central highlands, is characterised by volcanic soils that generally offer good drainage and mineral availability. This latitude and altitude combination tends to produce a growing environment where tea can be harvested year-round, though flush intensity often varies with the bimodal rainfall pattern common to equatorial East Africa. The interplay of altitude, temperature variation, and soil type typically contributes to the briskness and colour for which Kenyan black teas are recognised in global markets.

Tea Produced

Githongo produces black tea. Estates in this elevation band in Kenya typically yield a cup characterised by briskness, good colour, and a clean, malty body. The mid-altitude growing environment often supports the development of the polyphenol profile that underpins the strength and astringency valued in blending markets. While specific cultivar information is not available, Kenyan estates at this altitude generally produce leaf suited to CTC processing, which tends to result in liquors with robust character and reliable extraction properties.

Operator

Githongo is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency, a vertically integrated organisation that provides management, processing, and marketing services for smallholder tea farmers across Kenya. KTDA manages a substantial portfolio of tea factories and estates; six other estates operated by the agency are recorded in this directory. The agency's structure typically involves contracted smallholder growers who deliver green leaf to centralised factories, where it is processed and sold through the Mombasa auction or direct-sale channels.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

GITHONGO lies at -1.2868, 36.8269 in Moi Avenue, Kenya. Its 1670 m elevation is the joint 2nd highest of 12 estates we map in Moi Avenue. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• GIANCHORE — under 1 km away
• GITHAMBO — under 1 km away
• KIRU — under 1 km away
• LITEIN — under 1 km away
• MAKOMBOKI — under 1 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to GITHONGO

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match GITHONGO (1,670 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. GITHONGO recorded 769 mm in 2025, 64% less than the 2,130 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
KAIMOSI	Kaimosi, Kenya	1,665 m	1,764 mm	24.5 °C
Himalayan Shangri-La	Mechi Hwy, Nepal	1,661 m	2,238 mm	18.2 °C
Njeru Tea Factory	Meru-Nairobi Highway, Kenya	1,657 m	890 mm	22.8 °C
Rancabali Tea Estate	Bandung Regency, Indonesia	1,686 m	2,986 mm	21.5 °C
Chokanad I	Kerala, India	1,691 m	2,773 mm	21.1 °C

GITHONGO Compared with Moi Avenue

In Moi Avenue, GITHONGO is the driest of the 12 estates by 2025 rainfall; lower than 91% of the others by elevation; cooler than 82% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets GITHONGO against the 11 other estates we map in Moi Avenue, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	GITHONGO	Region median	Region range
Elevation	1,670 m	1,670 m	1,632 to 1,922 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	769 mm	769 mm	769 to 1,984 mm
Mean daily high	25.5 °C	25.5 °C	21.8 to 25.5 °C
Mean overnight low	14.8 °C	14.8 °C	11.8 to 14.8 °C

Observed Climate at GITHONGO (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for GITHONGO’s coordinates recorded 769 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (140 mm) and the driest was February (8 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.5 °C and overnight lows 14.8 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	769 mm
Wettest month	May (140 mm)
Driest month	February (8 mm)
Mean daily high	25.5 °C
Mean overnight low	14.8 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is GITHONGO located?

GITHONGO is in Moi Avenue, Kenya, at coordinates -1.2868, 36.8269, at an elevation of about 1670 metres.

Who operates GITHONGO?

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

What type of tea does GITHONGO produce?

GITHONGO is recorded as producing black tea.

How much rain does GITHONGO receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 769 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (140 mm).

How does GITHONGO compare with estates at a similar elevation?

GITHONGO recorded 769 mm in 2025, 64% less rain than the 2,130 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].