In short: Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd is a black tea producer operating at 1,850 metres in the Othaya region of Kenya's central highlands.
Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd operates in the Othaya region of Kenya, positioned at 1,850 metres above sea level in the country's central highlands. The factory produces black tea, drawing on leaf grown in an area known for smallholder farming and cooperative processing models. Details of the factory's ownership structure, operational history, and commercial partnerships remain unrecorded in public supply-chain databases.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,850 metres, Iriaini sits within the mid-to-high elevation band typical of Kenya's central provinces, where cooler temperatures and well-distributed rainfall generally support year-round vegetative growth. Estates at this altitude often experience moderated diurnal temperature swings that tend to slow leaf maturation, a factor that can contribute to the development of more complex biochemical profiles in the plucked shoot.
The Othaya region lies on the eastern slopes of the Aberdare Range, where volcanic soils, relatively high humidity, and the influence of equatorial latitude typically combine to create conditions favourable to camellia sinensis. Factories in this belt generally process leaf harvested from smallholder plots rather than large monoculture plantations, a model that shapes both the agronomic practices and the logistical rhythm of the manufacturing cycle.
Tea Produced
Iriaini produces black tea, the dominant output of Kenya's central highlands. Teas processed at this elevation in Othaya typically yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with bright colour and pronounced astringency, characteristics that have made Kenyan black teas widely sought in blended and packet-tea markets. Factories in this region often employ CTC (crush, tear, curl) manufacture to maximise extraction efficiency and colour strength, though production methods at Iriaini itself are not documented in available records.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd lies at -0.5518, 36.9447 in OTHAYA, Kenya. Its 1850 m elevation is the joint 132nd highest of 187 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- GITUGI — 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 Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd (1,850 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd 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 |
Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd Compared with Kenya
In Kenya, Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd is drier than 65% 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 Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd against the 186 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,850 m | 1,992 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 Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd’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 Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd located?
Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd is in OTHAYA, Kenya, at coordinates -0.5518, 36.9447, at an elevation of about 1850 metres.
What type of tea does Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd produce?
Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd is recorded as producing black tea.
How much rain does Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,285 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in October (186 mm).
How does Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Iriaini Tea Factory Company Ltd 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].