In short: Cyato Tea Plantation is a tea estate in Colline Mpage, Rwanda, operating at 1,558 metres and recorded as a supplier to Finlays.
Cyato Tea Plantation is a tea estate located in Colline Mpage, Rwanda, operating at an altitude of 1,558 metres. The estate is operated by Cyato Tea Plantation and is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major player in the global tea trade.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,558 metres above sea level and situated just south of the equator, Cyato Tea Plantation occupies an elevation that typically moderates diurnal temperature variation and extends the growing cycle. Estates at this altitude in Rwanda's volcanic highland zones generally experience cooler nights and warm days, conditions that tend to slow leaf maturation and can encourage the development of more complex biochemical profiles in the fresh leaf.
Rwanda's tea-growing regions are characterised by high rainfall and fertile volcanic soils, factors that often support vigorous vegetative growth. The relatively high altitude and equatorial latitude mean that flush cycles tend to be less sharply seasonal than in monsoonal tea regions, with growth generally sustained across much of the year. Such conditions can favour consistent cropping, though the specific interplay of microclimate, soil composition, and estate management remains unique to each site.
Tea Produced
Cyato Tea Plantation produces both black and green teas. Black teas from Rwandan estates at this elevation often yield a bright, coppery liquor with a clean, brisk character and moderate body. The cup profile tends towards a lively astringency balanced by a gentle sweetness, without the heavy malt notes more typical of lower-altitude production. Green teas processed from leaf grown at similar elevations in the region can display a fresh, vegetal quality with a light body and subtle grassy or herbaceous notes, though specific cup character will depend on processing method and plucking standard.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Cyato Tea Plantation is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea and horticulture business with a global footprint in tea sourcing, blending, and packaging. Finlays sources from estates across Africa and Asia, and its presence as a known buyer suggests that Cyato's production enters international supply chains serving branded and private-label tea packers. This relationship positions the estate within the commercial bulk and value-added segments of the export market, rather than direct artisan or estate-branded retail channels.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Cyato Tea Plantation lies at -2.3672, 29.1604 in Colline Mpage, Rwanda. Its 1558 m elevation is the 16th highest of 18 estates we map in Rwanda. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Gisakura Tea Estate — 13 km away · West
- Gisovu Tea Factory — 18 km away · Gisovu
- Shagasha Tea Factory — 25 km away · Gisuma
- Karongi\u00a0Tea Factory — 39 km away · Birambo
- MABAYI — 40 km away · Cibitoke
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Cyato Tea Plantation
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Cyato Tea Plantation (1,558 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Cyato Tea Plantation recorded 2,882 mm in 2025, 15% more than the 2,513 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIBENA | Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of | 1,560 m | 628 mm | 25.4 °C |
| Glenburn Tea Estate | Darjeeling, India | 1,552 m | 4,758 mm | 21.1 °C |
| Jungpana Tea Estate | West Bengal, India | 1,568 m | 2,552 mm | 19.7 °C |
| Agalawatte Plantations, Labookellie | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,541 m | 3,080 mm | 21.3 °C |
| TINDERET | Songhor, Kenya | 1,577 m | 1,545 mm | 25.9 °C |
Cyato Tea Plantation Compared with Rwanda
In Rwanda, Cyato Tea Plantation is wetter than 94% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 88% of the others by elevation; warmer than 76% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Cyato Tea Plantation against the 17 other estates we map in Rwanda, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Cyato Tea Plantation | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,558 m | 1,964 m | 1,413 to 2,379 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 2,882 mm | 1,199 mm | 1,053 to 2,889 mm |
| Mean daily high | 23.3 °C | 22.0 °C | 18.1 to 26.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.0 °C | 12.6 °C | 9.6 to 15.2 °C |
Observed Climate at Cyato Tea Plantation (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Cyato Tea Plantation’s coordinates recorded 2,882 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was May (487 mm) and the driest was July (65 mm). Daytime highs averaged 23.3 °C and overnight lows 15.0 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,882 mm |
| Wettest month | May (487 mm) |
| Driest month | July (65 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 23.3 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.0 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cyato Tea Plantation located?
Cyato Tea Plantation is in Colline Mpage, Rwanda, at coordinates -2.3672, 29.1604, at an elevation of about 1558 metres.
Who operates Cyato Tea Plantation?
Cyato Tea Plantation is operated by Cyato Tea Plantation, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Cyato Tea Plantation produce?
Cyato Tea Plantation is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does Cyato Tea Plantation supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Cyato Tea Plantation as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Cyato Tea Plantation receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,882 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in May (487 mm).
How does Cyato Tea Plantation compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Cyato Tea Plantation recorded 2,882 mm in 2025, 15% more rain than the 2,513 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].
