KANGAITA

Kangaita is a tea estate located on Moi Avenue in Kenya, positioned at an altitude of 1,632 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the cooperative body that manages smallholder tea production across much of Kenya's tea-growing regions. The estate produces black tea.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,632 metres above sea level, Kangaita sits within the mid-altitude band that characterises much of Kenya's smallholder tea production. Estates at this elevation typically experience moderate temperatures and consistent rainfall patterns, conditions that generally support steady vegetative growth throughout much of the year. The equatorial latitude means that seasonal variation in daylight is minimal, though rainfall distribution tends to shape the intensity of the plucking cycle.

Mid-altitude sites in Kenya often yield leaf with good body and briskness, though the specific interplay of soil type, aspect, and microclimate will influence the character of the made tea. Kangaita's position on Moi Avenue places it within a region where smallholder plots are aggregated for processing, a model that tends to produce teas blended from multiple micro-terroirs rather than single-garden lots.

Tea Produced

Kangaita produces black tea, the dominant category across Kenya's KTDA-managed estates. Kenyan black teas from mid-altitude sites typically exhibit bright, coppery liquors with a clean, assertive character. Estates in this elevation range often yield teas with pronounced briskness, moderate astringency, and a malty backbone, qualities that have made Kenyan CTC production a staple of East African blends for both packet tea and the export market. The cup profile will vary with plucking season, processing technique, and the specific clonal material under cultivation, but the general tendency is towards teas that deliver colour, strength, and a forthright flavour.

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency is a cooperative organisation representing smallholder tea farmers across Kenya, managing the processing and marketing of leaf from numerous estates and factory units. KTDA operates six other estates recorded in this directory, reflecting its central role in the Kenyan tea sector. The agency's model aggregates production from individual growers, processes it at shared facilities, and markets the tea through the Mombasa auction and direct sales, providing smallholders with access to international buyers and quality-control infrastructure that would be difficult to achieve independently.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KANGAITA lies at -0.4961, 37.2422 in Moi Avenue, Kenya. Its 1632 m elevation is the lowest of 12 estates we map in Moi Avenue. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• MUNUNGA — 4.4 km away · Kerugoya
• NDIMA — 9.0 km away · Mathira West
• Kimunye Tea Factory — 10 km away · Kimunye
• Thumaita — 12 km away · Kenya
• RAGATI — 15 km away · KARATINA

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KANGAITA

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KANGAITA (1,632 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KANGAITA recorded 1,160 mm in 2025, 49% less than the 2,295 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
Global Village Tea Company Ltd.	Western, Uganda	1,635 m	1,399 mm	25.3 °C
Devikulam	Kerala, India	1,626 m	2,773 mm	21.3 °C
Mwenge	Ankole. District: Bushenyi Area, Uganda	1,644 m	1,399 mm	25.3 °C
Arivikad	Kerala, India	1,646 m	2,773 mm	21.3 °C
Kayu Aro Tea Estate	Kerinci Regency, Indonesia	1,618 m	3,130 mm	21.1 °C

KANGAITA Compared with Moi Avenue

In Moi Avenue, KANGAITA is wetter than 91% of the others by 2025 rainfall; the lowest of the 12 estates by elevation; the coolest of the 12 estates by daytime temperature. The table sets KANGAITA 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	KANGAITA	Region median	Region range
Elevation	1,632 m	1,670 m	1,670 to 1,922 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,160 mm	769 mm	769 to 1,984 mm
Mean daily high	21.8 °C	25.5 °C	22.4 to 25.5 °C
Mean overnight low	12.9 °C	14.8 °C	11.8 to 14.8 °C

Observed Climate at KANGAITA (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KANGAITA’s coordinates recorded 1,160 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was June (181 mm) and the driest was February (12 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.8 °C and overnight lows 12.9 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,160 mm
Wettest month	June (181 mm)
Driest month	February (12 mm)
Mean daily high	21.8 °C
Mean overnight low	12.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KANGAITA located?

KANGAITA is in Moi Avenue, Kenya, at coordinates -0.4961, 37.2422, at an elevation of about 1632 metres.

Who operates KANGAITA?

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

What type of tea does KANGAITA produce?

KANGAITA is recorded as producing black tea.

How much rain does KANGAITA receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,160 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in June (181 mm).

How does KANGAITA compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KANGAITA recorded 1,160 mm in 2025, 49% less rain than the 2,295 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].