Pfunda Tea Factory

Pfunda Tea Factory is a tea estate and processing facility located in the Rubavu district of Rwanda, operating at an altitude of 1,868 metres. The estate is operated by Pfunda Tea Factory and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the major players in the global tea supply chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,868 metres above sea level, Pfunda sits within the high-altitude band that characterises much of Rwanda's tea-growing landscape. Estates at this elevation typically experience cooler ambient temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf development and can encourage the accumulation of complex flavour compounds. The latitude, just south of the equator, generally supports year-round vegetative growth with seasonal peaks shaped by bimodal rainfall patterns common to the region.

The Rubavu district lies in the western province of Rwanda, where the terrain is marked by steep slopes and volcanic soils derived from the rift valley geology. These soils often offer good drainage and mineral content, factors that can influence root health and nutrient uptake. The interplay of altitude, latitude, and rainfall regime tends to create an environment where tea grows steadily rather than explosively, a characteristic often associated with the production of leaf suitable for both orthodox and CTC processing.

Tea Produced

Pfunda processes both black and green teas. Rwandan black teas from estates at this altitude typically yield a cup with moderate body, a clean profile, and a gentle astringency; the slower maturation at higher elevations often contributes to a smoother, less aggressive character than that of lowland teas. Green tea production in the region tends to emphasise fresh, grassy notes, though cup profile will vary with withering time, fixation method, and leaf grade. Estates in Rubavu generally produce teas suited to blending as well as single-origin offerings, depending on the demands of the buyer.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Pfunda Tea Factory is recorded as supplying Finlays, a vertically integrated tea and horticulture business with extensive sourcing, blending, and packing operations across multiple continents. Finlays supplies own-label and branded tea to retail and foodservice customers in Europe, North America, and beyond, positioning Pfunda within a supply chain that serves mainstream and premium segments. The relationship suggests that the estate's output meets the quality and traceability standards required by a buyer operating at significant scale in competitive markets.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Operator

The estate is operated by Pfunda Tea Factory. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in our directory.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Pfunda Tea Factory lies at -1.6982, 29.3451 in Rubavu, Rwanda. Its 1868 m elevation is the 12th highest of 18 estates we map in Rwanda. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• RUBAYA — 20 km away · Kabaya
• Nyabihu Tea Estate — 36 km away · NR16
• Karongi\u00a0Tea Factory — 53 km away · Birambo
• Karongi Ltd, Muganza, Kivu Tea Factory — 65 km away · Birambo
• Mata — 65 km away · Mata

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Pfunda Tea Factory

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Pfunda Tea Factory (1,868 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Pfunda Tea Factory recorded 2,357 mm in 2025, 10% more than the 2,145 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
Mbogo Tea Factory	Kimatkei - Mbogo Valley Rd, Kenya	1,868 m	2,044 mm	23.4 °C
NDIMA	Mathira West, Kenya	1,869 m	1,066 mm	20.8 °C
Luckyland Tea Estate	Nuwara Eliya-Uda Pussellawa Rd, Sri Lanka	1,865 m	3,152 mm	19.6 °C
Parkside Tea Estate	Coonoor, India	1,864 m	1,467 mm	19.7 °C
Kalaargold Tea Estate	Kannan Devan Hills, India	1,864 m	2,995 mm	20.4 °C

Pfunda Tea Factory Compared with Rwanda

In Rwanda, Pfunda Tea Factory is wetter than 88% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 65% of the others by elevation; cooler than 59% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Pfunda 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	Pfunda Tea Factory	Country median	Country range
Elevation	1,868 m	1,964 m	1,413 to 2,379 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	2,357 mm	1,199 mm	1,053 to 2,889 mm
Mean daily high	21.7 °C	22.0 °C	18.1 to 26.3 °C
Mean overnight low	13.1 °C	12.6 °C	9.6 to 15.2 °C

Observed Climate at Pfunda Tea Factory (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Pfunda Tea Factory’s coordinates recorded 2,357 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was January (376 mm) and the driest was July (106 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.7 °C and overnight lows 13.1 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	2,357 mm
Wettest month	January (376 mm)
Driest month	July (106 mm)
Mean daily high	21.7 °C
Mean overnight low	13.1 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Pfunda Tea Factory located?

Pfunda Tea Factory is in Rubavu, Rwanda, at coordinates -1.6982, 29.3451, at an elevation of about 1868 metres.

Who operates Pfunda Tea Factory?

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

What type of tea does Pfunda Tea Factory produce?

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

Which buyers does Pfunda Tea Factory supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Pfunda Tea Factory as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Pfunda Tea Factory receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,357 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in January (376 mm).

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

Pfunda Tea Factory recorded 2,357 mm in 2025, 10% more rain than the 2,145 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].