Gisovu Tea Factory

Gisovu Tea Factory is a tea estate and processing facility in the Gisovu region of western Rwanda, operated by Gisovu Tea Factory. Situated at 2,178 metres above sea level, it is among the higher-altitude tea operations in the country. The estate is known to supply Finlays, one of the major actors in the international tea trade.

Terroir & Climate

At 2,178 metres, Gisovu sits well above the typical elevation range for most of the world's tea cultivation. Estates at such altitudes generally experience cooler temperatures and more pronounced diurnal variation, conditions that tend to slow vegetative growth and can encourage the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the leaf. Rwanda's position near the equator typically provides consistent day length throughout the year, while the high-altitude environment often brings cloud cover, mist, and significant rainfall.

These climatic factors generally favour a more measured growing cycle. The cooler nights and moderate daytime temperatures common at this elevation can produce leaf that is slower to mature, which in many high-grown origins is associated with greater aromatic complexity and body in the cup. Terroir at this altitude is also shaped by volcanic soils, which are widespread in Rwanda's tea regions and tend to offer good drainage and mineral availability.

Tea Produced

Gisovu Tea Factory produces both black and green teas. Rwandan high-grown black teas typically exhibit a clean, bright character with moderate astringency and notes that can range from floral to malty, depending on processing. Green teas from estates at this elevation often show vegetal sweetness and a smooth, rounded body, with less of the sharp grassiness found in some lower-altitude or more aggressively steamed styles. The altitude and equatorial climate tend to favour teas with good colour, clarity, and a balanced, approachable profile suitable for both blending and single-origin offerings.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Gisovu Tea Factory is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea and horticulture business with a significant footprint in sourcing, processing, and distribution across multiple continents. This connection places Gisovu within a supply chain that serves major international tea brands and retailers. For buyers, a relationship with Finlays typically signals access to established quality assurance systems, traceability infrastructure, and routes to both commodity and premium segments of the market.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Gisovu Tea Factory lies at -2.5303, 29.1856 in Gisovu, Rwanda. Its 2178 m elevation is the 4th 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 — 14 km away · West
• Cyato Tea Plantation — 18 km away · Colline Mpage
• MABAYI — 22 km away · Cibitoke
• Shagasha Tea Factory — 25 km away · Gisuma
• Muganza - Kivu — 33 km away · Nyaruguru

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Gisovu Tea Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Gisovu Tea Factory (2,178 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Gisovu Tea Factory recorded 2,889 mm in 2025, 122% more than the 1,301 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
IJENDA	Bujumbura Rural, Burundi	2,175 m	1,132 mm	19.8 °C
KAMBAA	Githunguri, Kenya	2,173 m	1,128 mm	20.0 °C
Karongi\u00a0Tea Factory	Birambo, Rwanda	2,171 m	1,401 mm	20.3 °C
Muganza - Kivu	Nyaruguru, Rwanda	2,190 m	1,193 mm	19.8 °C
Gacharage Tea Factory	Gacharage, Kenya	2,157 m	1,650 mm	19.0 °C

Gisovu Tea Factory Compared with Rwanda

In Rwanda, Gisovu Tea Factory is the wettest of the 18 estates by 2025 rainfall; higher than 82% of the others by elevation; cooler than 82% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Gisovu Tea Factory against the 17 other estates we map in Rwanda, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.

Measure	Gisovu Tea Factory	Country median	Country range
Elevation	2,178 m	1,953 m	1,413 to 2,379 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,889 mm	1,199 mm	1,053 to 2,882 mm
Mean daily high	20.1 °C	22.0 °C	18.1 to 26.3 °C
Mean overnight low	9.6 °C	12.8 °C	9.6 to 15.2 °C

Observed Climate at Gisovu Tea Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Gisovu Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 2,889 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (388 mm) and the driest was July (85 mm). Daytime highs averaged 20.1 °C and overnight lows 9.6 °C over the year; March was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,889 mm
Wettest month	April (388 mm)
Driest month	July (85 mm)
Mean daily high	20.1 °C
Mean overnight low	9.6 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Gisovu Tea Factory located?

Gisovu Tea Factory is in Gisovu, Rwanda, at coordinates -2.5303, 29.1856, at an elevation of about 2178 metres.

Who operates Gisovu Tea Factory?

Gisovu Tea Factory is operated by Gisovu Tea Factory, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does Gisovu Tea Factory produce?

Gisovu Tea Factory is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does Gisovu Tea Factory supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Gisovu Tea Factory as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Gisovu Tea Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,889 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (388 mm).

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

Gisovu Tea Factory recorded 2,889 mm in 2025, 122% more rain than the 1,301 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].