KIBENA

Kibena is a tea estate located in the Iringa region of Tanzania, at an elevation of 1,560 metres. The estate is operated by Kibena and produces both black and green teas. It is recorded as a supplier to the British retailer Morrisons.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,560 metres elevation in the Southern Highlands, tea estates in this part of Tanzania typically experience a temperate climate moderated by altitude, with cooler nights and warm days that tend to slow vegetative growth and extend the plucking cycle. The latitude—just under eight degrees south of the equator—generally permits year-round cultivation, though rainfall patterns and seasonal temperature variation in Iringa often shape distinct flush periods. Estates at this elevation commonly benefit from well-drained soils and diurnal temperature swings that can encourage slower maturation of the leaf.

The interplay of altitude and equatorial proximity in this region tends to yield teas with moderate astringency and body. Cooler night temperatures at higher elevations often correlate with more measured biochemical development in the leaf, which can influence the balance of polyphenols and amino acids. While specific soil composition and microclimate vary across individual estates, the Iringa plateau as a whole is recognised for conditions that generally favour the production of both orthodox black teas and, increasingly, green tea styles.

Tea Produced

Kibena produces both black and green teas. Black teas from estates in the Iringa region at this elevation typically exhibit a clean, brisk character with moderate body and a balance of astringency and sweetness; the cup profile tends to be straightforward and well-suited to blending. Green teas produced at higher altitudes in East Africa often display a lighter, more vegetal character than their lowland counterparts, though specific processing methods—steaming or pan-firing, withering duration—will ultimately shape the finished leaf. The estate's output is likely to reflect the broader regional style: reliable, consistent, and accessible in flavour.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kibena is recorded as supplying Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's major supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the mainstream retail supply chain, where volumes, consistency, and traceability are key purchasing criteria. Supplying a large British retailer indicates that Kibena meets the quality standards and audit requirements typical of the UK grocery sector, and suggests that its production is oriented toward everyday blended tea rather than specialist or single-estate retail lines.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KIBENA lies at -7.7681, 35.6861 in Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of. Its 1560 m elevation is the joint 5th highest of 6 estates we map in Iringa. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• NJOMBE — under 1 km away
• KABAMBE — 1.8 km away
• KIBWELE — 101 km away
• KILIMA — 101 km away
• LUGODA — 101 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KIBENA

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KIBENA (1,560 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KIBENA recorded 628 mm in 2025, 79% less than the 2,963 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
Cyato Tea Plantation	Colline Mpage, Rwanda	1,558 m	2,882 mm	23.3 °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
TINDERET	Songhor, Kenya	1,577 m	1,545 mm	25.9 °C
Agalawatte Plantations, Labookellie	Central Province, Sri Lanka	1,541 m	3,080 mm	21.3 °C

KIBENA Compared with Iringa

In Iringa, KIBENA is the driest of the 6 estates by 2025 rainfall; the lowest of the 6 estates by elevation; warmer than 60% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets KIBENA against the 5 other estates we map in Iringa, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	KIBENA	Region median	Region range
Elevation	1,560 m	1,963 m	1,560 to 1,963 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	628 mm	1,215 mm	628 to 1,215 mm
Mean daily high	25.4 °C	19.4 °C	19.4 to 25.4 °C
Mean overnight low	14.8 °C	11.6 °C	11.6 to 14.8 °C

Observed Climate at KIBENA (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KIBENA’s coordinates recorded 628 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was March (202 mm) and the driest was July (0 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.4 °C and overnight lows 14.8 °C over the year; November was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	628 mm
Wettest month	March (202 mm)
Driest month	July (0 mm)
Mean daily high	25.4 °C
Mean overnight low	14.8 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KIBENA located?

KIBENA is in Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of, at coordinates -7.7681, 35.6861, at an elevation of about 1560 metres.

Who operates KIBENA?

KIBENA is operated by Kibena, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does KIBENA produce?

KIBENA is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does KIBENA supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KIBENA as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does KIBENA receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 628 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in March (202 mm).

How does KIBENA compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KIBENA recorded 628 mm in 2025, 79% less rain than the 2,963 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].