GITUGI

Gitugi is a black tea estate located in Othaya, in the central highlands of Kenya. Situated at 1,850 metres above sea level, the estate is managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the cooperative body that oversees smallholder tea production across much of Kenya's tea sector. The KTDA operates six other estates recorded in this directory, reflecting the agency's significant reach within the country's tea industry.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,850 metres, Gitugi occupies a mid-to-high elevation within Kenya's central highlands, a zone where altitude and proximity to the equator combine to create conditions generally associated with year-round growing potential. Estates at this latitude typically experience two main wet seasons, which can permit multiple harvest flushes annually. The cooler temperatures at this altitude tend to slow leaf maturation, often encouraging the development of more nuanced flavour compounds in the plucked leaf.

The Othaya area lies within Kenya's traditional tea belt, where volcanic soils and reliable rainfall have long supported the crop. Diurnal temperature variation at this elevation is generally pronounced, a characteristic that many agronomists associate with improved leaf chemistry and structural integrity. Humidity levels in this part of the highlands are typically moderate to high during the wet months, conditions that tend to favour vigorous vegetative growth while requiring careful field management to mitigate foliar disease pressure.

Tea Produced

Gitugi produces black tea, the dominant category in Kenya's export portfolio. Kenyan blacks from estates at this elevation typically yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with pronounced astringency and a bright, coppery infusion. The processing style common to the region—CTC (cut, tear, curl) or occasionally orthodox—tends to emphasise strength and colour, characteristics valued in blending for both packet tea and foodservice markets. Estates in the central highlands often produce leaf with a clean, malty character and moderate fragrance, though specific cup profiles vary with clone selection, processing choices, and seasonal conditions.

Operator

The Kenya Tea Development Agency manages Gitugi alongside six other estates recorded in this directory. Established as a cooperative structure to support smallholder farmers, the KTDA operates factories on behalf of its member growers and handles the marketing and export of their made tea. The agency's model has been instrumental in positioning Kenya as one of the world's leading black tea exporters, providing smallholders with access to processing infrastructure, quality control, and international auction channels. The KTDA's reach across multiple growing regions gives it a central role in the Kenyan tea supply chain.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

GITUGI lies at -0.5518, 36.9447 in Othaya, Kenya. Its 1850 m elevation is the joint 131st highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd — under 1 km away
• Chinga Tea Factory — 7.6 km away
• Gathuthi Tea Factory — 8.9 km away
• GATUNGURU — 11 km away · Mathioya
• KANYENYAINI — 15 km away · KANGEMA

Estates at a Similar Altitude to GITUGI

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match GITUGI (1,850 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. GITUGI recorded 1,285 mm in 2025, 42% less than the 2,212 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
Sedep Tea Estate	WEST JAVA, Indonesia	1,859 m	3,309 mm	20.0 °C
Chamraj Tea Estate	Tamil Nadu, India	1,863 m	2,112 mm	20.4 °C
Parkside Tea Estate	Coonoor, India	1,864 m	1,467 mm	19.7 °C
Sasini Plc., Kipkebe Tea Factory	Kericho, Kenya	1,836 m	1,021 mm	25.1 °C
Luckyland Tea Estate	Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd, Sri Lanka	1,865 m	3,152 mm	19.6 °C

GITUGI Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, GITUGI is drier than 64% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 71% of the others by elevation; cooler than 83% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets GITUGI against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	GITUGI	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,850 m	1,990 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,285 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	21.7 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	12.3 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at GITUGI (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for GITUGI’s coordinates recorded 1,285 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was October (186 mm) and the driest was February (16 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.7 °C and overnight lows 12.3 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,285 mm
Wettest month	October (186 mm)
Driest month	February (16 mm)
Mean daily high	21.7 °C
Mean overnight low	12.3 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is GITUGI located?

GITUGI is in Othaya, Kenya, at coordinates -0.5518, 36.9447, at an elevation of about 1850 metres.

Who operates GITUGI?

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

What type of tea does GITUGI produce?

GITUGI is recorded as producing black tea.

How much rain does GITUGI receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,285 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (186 mm).

How does GITUGI compare with estates at a similar elevation?

GITUGI recorded 1,285 mm in 2025, 42% less rain than the 2,212 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].