TINET

TINET is a tea estate situated in Olenguruone, Kenya, at an elevation of 2,437 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Kiptagich Tea Estates Ltd, which also manages at least one other tea-producing property in the country. TINET is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,437 metres, TINET occupies one of the higher altitude bands available to Kenyan tea cultivation, situated just south of the equator in the Olenguruone area. Estates at this elevation typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than their lower-altitude counterparts, conditions that tend to slow the growth cycle and encourage a gradual accumulation of flavour compounds in the leaf. The altitude also generally brings more frequent cloud cover and mist, which can moderate sunlight intensity and contribute to moisture retention in the soil.

The equatorial location means that day length remains relatively constant throughout the year, whilst rainfall patterns in this part of the Rift Valley highlands tend to follow bimodal cycles, with long and short rains influencing the annual flush calendar. Soils at these elevations in the region are often volcanic in origin, typically well-drained and acidic, characteristics that generally suit Camellia sinensis var. assamica clones commonly planted in Kenya. The combination of high altitude, equatorial light and volcanic terroir is widely associated with the development of brisk, full-bodied leaf.

Tea Produced

TINET produces black tea. Estates in the Kenyan highlands at this elevation typically yield teas with a pronounced briskness, coppery liquor and a robust, malty body. The slower maturation encouraged by cooler temperatures at over 2,400 metres often results in leaf with good depth of flavour and a clean, astringent finish. Such teas are generally well-suited to blending and are valued in both the commodity auction system and for retail own-label products where strength and consistency are priorities.

Supply Chain & Market Position

TINET is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain for British retail own-label tea, a segment that prizes consistency, traceability and competitive pricing. The fact that Morrisons sources from TINET suggests that the estate's output meets the quality and volume expectations of a large-scale retail buyer, and that it is integrated into the procurement networks that link Kenyan producers directly with UK end-users, often bypassing or complementing traditional auction channels.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Kiptagich Tea Estates Ltd operates TINET and is recorded as managing at least one other tea estate in Kenya. Multi-estate operators of this kind often benefit from economies of scale in processing, logistics and market access, and may coordinate production and quality standards across their holdings to meet the requirements of large buyers. The presence of sibling estates can indicate a degree of operational stability and experience in the Kenyan tea sector.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

TINET lies at -0.5968, 35.6314 in Olenguruone, Kenya. Its 2437 m elevation is the joint 2nd 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, Olenguruone — under 1 km away · Kericho
• Chemusian Tea Factory — under 1 km away · Nakuru
• Kiptagich Tea Factory Company Ltd — 4.2 km away · Nakuru
• TACHASIS — 7.9 km away
• Kisyet Tea Limited — 26 km away · Bomet

Estates at a Similar Altitude to TINET

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match TINET (2,437 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. TINET recorded 1,382 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 1,376 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
RUBAYA	Kabaya, Rwanda	2,379 m	1,199 mm	18.1 °C
NSHILI KIVU	Kigali, Rwanda	2,372 m	1,382 mm	18.6 °C
KIPSINENDE	Iten, Kenya	2,361 m	1,056 mm	20.5 °C
Werraka	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	2,302 m	1,148 mm	22.6 °C
CHUNDAVURRAI	Kannan Devan Hills, India	2,299 m	2,094 mm	17.9 °C

TINET Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, TINET is drier than 58% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 98% of the others by elevation; cooler than 93% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets TINET against the 186 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	TINET	Country median	Country range
Elevation	2,437 m	1,990 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,382 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	20.5 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	9.7 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at TINET (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for TINET’s coordinates recorded 1,382 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (182 mm) and the driest was February (5 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.5 °C and overnight lows 9.7 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,382 mm
Wettest month	October (182 mm)
Driest month	February (5 mm)
Mean daily high	20.5 °C
Mean overnight low	9.7 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is TINET located?

TINET is in Olenguruone, Kenya, at coordinates -0.5968, 35.6314, at an elevation of about 2437 metres.

Who operates TINET?

TINET is operated by Kiptagich Tea Estates Ltd, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does TINET produce?

TINET is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does TINET supply?

Public supplier disclosures record TINET as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does TINET receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,382 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (182 mm).

How does TINET compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 1,376 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 1,382 mm at TINET.

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].