TINDERET

Tinderet is a black tea estate located in Songhor, Kenya, at an elevation of 1,577 metres. The estate is operated by Williamson Tea Kenya PLC, one of the country's established tea producers. Tinderet is known to supply Morrisons, the British supermarket chain, placing it within the supply network for UK retail.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,577 metres above sea level and positioned almost precisely on the equator, Tinderet occupies a mid-elevation zone in Kenya's western tea-growing belt. Estates at this altitude typically experience moderate temperatures and reliable rainfall distributed across two main wet seasons, conditions that generally support steady vegetative growth throughout much of the year. The equatorial latitude means minimal seasonal variation in day length, which tends to encourage a relatively even flush cycle compared to estates further from the equator.

Mid-elevation sites in this part of Kenya often benefit from well-drained volcanic soils, though specific soil composition can vary considerably within the region. The interplay of altitude, consistent moisture, and equatorial sunlight typically shapes a growing environment conducive to producing black tea with body and colour, characteristics that have underpinned Kenya's position in global commodity tea markets.

Tea Produced

Tinderet produces black tea, the dominant style across Kenya's commercial estates. Teas from mid-elevation Kenyan gardens in this region generally yield a brisk, full-bodied cup with good colour and a clean, malty character. The CTC manufacturing method, widely employed in Kenya's export-focused estates, tends to produce leaf that brews quickly and delivers the strength and astringency favoured in blended breakfast teas and in markets where tea is taken with milk.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Tinderet's recorded supply relationship with Morrisons indicates its integration into the UK retail supply chain, one of the most significant export channels for Kenyan black tea. Morrisons sources tea for both own-label products and branded lines sold through its stores, and estates supplying major British supermarkets typically meet volume, consistency, and traceability standards required by buyers operating at scale. This relationship positions Tinderet within the mainstream of Kenya's export-oriented tea sector, which supplies a substantial proportion of the black tea consumed in the United Kingdom.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Williamson Tea Kenya PLC is the operating company behind Tinderet. The firm manages a portfolio of estates in Kenya; in addition to Tinderet, Williamson Tea Kenya operates at least two other estates recorded in industry directories. This multi-estate structure is characteristic of larger tea firms in Kenya and typically affords operational scale in processing, logistics, and market access.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

TINDERET lies at 0.0152, 35.2368 in Songhor, Kenya. Its 1577 m elevation is the 173rd highest of 186 estates we map in Kenya. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Eastern Produce Of Kenya, Siret Tea Factory — 5.5 km away · Nandi
• Eastern Produce Of Kenya, Kepchomo Tea Factory — 8.4 km away · Nandi
• KAPCHORUA — 10.0 km away · Nandi Hills
• Eastern Produce Of Kenya, Kipkoimet Tea Factory- Sitoi — 11 km away · Nandi
• Eastern Produce Of Kenya, Kapsumbeiwa Tea\u00a0 Factory, Sokot — 11 km away · Nandi

Estates at a Similar Altitude to TINDERET

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match TINDERET (1,577 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. TINDERET recorded 1,545 mm in 2025, 30% less than the 2,209 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
Karongi Ltd, Muganza, Kivu Tea Factory	Birambo, Rwanda	1,582 m	1,190 mm	24.5 °C
Lockhart Tea Estate	Devicolam Idukki, India	1,570 m	3,791 mm	21.4 °C
Jungpana Tea Estate	West Bengal, India	1,568 m	2,552 mm	19.7 °C
KIBENA	Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of	1,560 m	628 mm	25.4 °C
Cyato Tea Plantation	Colline Mpage, Rwanda	1,558 m	2,882 mm	23.3 °C

TINDERET Compared with Kenya

In Kenya, TINDERET is wetter than 54% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 93% of the others by elevation; warmer than 97% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets TINDERET against the 185 other estates we map in Kenya, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	TINDERET	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,577 m	1,990 m	821 to 2,790 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,545 mm	1,518 mm	754 to 2,070 mm
Mean daily high	25.9 °C	22.4 °C	16.8 to 30.2 °C
Mean overnight low	14.0 °C	12.0 °C	8.5 to 19.8 °C

Observed Climate at TINDERET (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for TINDERET’s coordinates recorded 1,545 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (283 mm) and the driest was February (12 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.9 °C and overnight lows 14.0 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,545 mm
Wettest month	April (283 mm)
Driest month	February (12 mm)
Mean daily high	25.9 °C
Mean overnight low	14.0 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is TINDERET located?

TINDERET is in Songhor, Kenya, at coordinates 0.0152, 35.2368, at an elevation of about 1577 metres.

Who operates TINDERET?

TINDERET is operated by Williamson Tea Kenya PLC, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does TINDERET produce?

TINDERET is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does TINDERET supply?

Public supplier disclosures record TINDERET as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does TINDERET receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,545 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (283 mm).

How does TINDERET compare with estates at a similar elevation?

TINDERET recorded 1,545 mm in 2025, 30% less rain than the 2,209 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].