In short: Siongo is a black tea estate on Moi Avenue, Kenya, at 1,670 metres, operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency.
Siongo is a black tea estate located on Moi Avenue in Kenya, at an altitude of 1,670 metres. The estate is operated by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the country's largest smallholder tea management organisation. No verified buyers are recorded in commercial databases.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,670 metres above sea level and positioned near the equator, Siongo lies within a mid-elevation band where Kenyan tea estates typically experience moderate diurnal temperature variation and relatively consistent year-round rainfall. Estates at this altitude generally benefit from cooler nights that can slow leaf development, often contributing to greater concentration of flavour compounds compared to lower-altitude production.
The central Kenyan highlands, where Moi Avenue is situated, tend to offer well-drained volcanic soils and reliable moisture—conditions that historically have supported productive tea cultivation. This elevation is neither the highest nor the lowest in Kenya's tea-growing regions, and gardens at this altitude often strike a balance between yield and the more nuanced leaf character sometimes associated with higher terrain.
Tea Produced
Siongo produces black tea. Kenyan black teas from mid-elevation estates in the central highlands typically yield a brisk, copper-coloured liquor with pronounced body and a clean, malty character. Teas from this altitude band often display the bright, assertive profile for which Kenyan CTC production is known internationally, though the specific cup character of Siongo itself will vary with season, processing and leaf grade.
Operator
The Kenya Tea Development Agency manages Siongo alongside a network of smallholder factories across the country. KTDA operates six other estates recorded in this directory, and is the dominant institution in Kenya's smallholder tea sector, providing agronomic support, processing infrastructure and auction access to tens of thousands of growers. The agency's model has been influential in shaping the structure of Kenya's tea exports since the post-independence era.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
SIONGO 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
- GITHONGO — under 1 km away
- KIRU — under 1 km away
- LITEIN — under 1 km away
Estates at a Similar Altitude to SIONGO
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match SIONGO (1,670 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. SIONGO 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 |
SIONGO Compared with Moi Avenue
In Moi Avenue, SIONGO 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 SIONGO 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 | SIONGO | 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 SIONGO (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for SIONGO’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 SIONGO located?
SIONGO is in Moi Avenue, Kenya, at coordinates -1.2868, 36.8269, at an elevation of about 1670 metres.
Who operates SIONGO?
SIONGO is operated by Kenya Tea Development Agency, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does SIONGO produce?
SIONGO is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does SIONGO receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 769 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (140 mm).
How does SIONGO compare with estates at a similar elevation?
SIONGO 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].
