Gathuthi Tea Factory

Gathuthi Tea Factory is a black tea production facility situated in Othaya, in the central highlands of Kenya. The factory operates at an elevation of 2,066 metres and is managed by Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the parastatal organisation that coordinates smallholder tea production across much of the country. The factory processes leaf from small-scale growers in the surrounding catchment area.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,066 metres above sea level, Gathuthi sits in the upper reaches of Kenya's tea-growing zones, where cooler temperatures and high solar irradiance typically slow vegetative growth and encourage the accumulation of polyphenols in the leaf. Estates at this elevation in the central highlands generally experience a bimodal rainfall pattern, with wet seasons from March to May and October to December, punctuated by drier interludes that can concentrate flavour compounds.

Othaya lies on the southern slopes of the Aberdare Range, where well-drained volcanic soils and relatively stable year-round temperatures tend to favour consistent cropping. The combination of altitude, equatorial latitude, and cloud cover often results in a moderated diurnal temperature swing, conditions that estates in this belt commonly associate with balanced astringency and good colour in the made tea.

Tea Produced

Gathuthi produces black tea, the dominant style across Kenya's smallholder sector. Factories at this altitude in the central highlands typically yield a brisk, copper-bright liquor with pronounced body and astringency. Othaya teas generally exhibit the clean, malty character and reddish infusion valued by blenders for breakfast-style products, though cup profile will vary by season, plucking standard, and processing parameters within the factory itself.

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency coordinates more than sixty smallholder tea factories across the country, managing leaf collection, processing, and marketing on behalf of thousands of individual growers. KTDA operates six other estates recorded in this directory, making it one of the largest players in Kenya's tea sector. The agency's model consolidates the output of small plots into commercial volumes suitable for auction and direct sale, providing economies of scale in processing and market access that individual farmers would struggle to achieve independently.

Certifications & Ethics

Gathuthi Tea Factory holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative that monitors labour practices, environmental stewardship, and social conditions on member estates. ETP certification requires adherence to a code covering wages, working hours, health and safety, and the prohibition of child and forced labour, with independent audit and a commitment to continuous improvement. For buyers, the standard offers supply-chain assurance on social and environmental risk; for workers and smallholders in the catchment, it is intended to underpin better conditions and grievance mechanisms.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Gathuthi Tea Factory lies at -0.4902, 36.8938 in Othaya, Kenya. Its 2066 m elevation is the 32nd highest of 187 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• GITUGI — 8.9 km away
• Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd — 8.9 km away
• Chinga Tea Factory — 12 km away
• GATUNGURU — 17 km away · Mathioya
• KANYENYAINI — 21 km away · KANGEMA

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Gathuthi Tea Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Gathuthi Tea Factory (2,066 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Gathuthi Tea Factory recorded 1,434 mm in 2025, within 5% of the 1,439 mm average across these estates, so altitude explains most of its rainfall.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
Happy valley	West Bengal, India	2,071 m	2,294 mm	17.1 °C
Maramba Tea Factory Ltd	Limuru, Kenya	2,072 m	894 mm	21.7 °C
KIAMOKAMA	Keroka, Kenya	2,059 m	1,210 mm	23.5 °C
Welbeck Tea Estate	Tamil Nadu, India	2,077 m	1,583 mm	18.8 °C
Sorwathe S.A.R.L.	Kinihira Sector, Rwanda	2,026 m	1,213 mm	22.0 °C

Gathuthi Tea Factory Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, Gathuthi Tea Factory is drier than 55% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 83% of the others by elevation; cooler than 96% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Gathuthi Tea Factory against the 186 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	Gathuthi Tea Factory	Country median	Country range
Elevation	2,066 m	1,990 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,434 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	19.9 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	10.9 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at Gathuthi Tea Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Gathuthi Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 1,434 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (227 mm) and the driest was February (11 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.9 °C and overnight lows 10.9 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,434 mm
Wettest month	October (227 mm)
Driest month	February (11 mm)
Mean daily high	19.9 °C
Mean overnight low	10.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Gathuthi Tea Factory located?

Gathuthi Tea Factory is in Othaya, Kenya, at coordinates -0.4902, 36.8938, at an elevation of about 2066 metres.

Who operates Gathuthi Tea Factory?

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

What type of tea does Gathuthi Tea Factory produce?

Gathuthi Tea Factory is recorded as producing black tea.

What certifications does Gathuthi Tea Factory hold?

Gathuthi Tea Factory is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.

How much rain does Gathuthi Tea Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,434 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (227 mm).

How does Gathuthi Tea Factory compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Estates at a similar elevation recorded about 1,439 mm of rain in 2025, close to the 1,434 mm at Gathuthi Tea Factory.

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].