KILIMA

Kilima is a tea estate located in the Iringa region of Tanzania, at an elevation of 1,963 metres above sea level. The estate is operated by Unilever Tea Tanzania, a subsidiary of the multinational consumer goods group, and is recorded as a supplier to the British supermarket chain Morrisons.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,963 metres, Kilima sits at a comparatively high elevation for African tea production. Estates at this altitude in equatorial East Africa typically benefit from cooler temperatures and a pronounced diurnal range, factors that tend to slow leaf maturation and encourage the accumulation of secondary metabolites associated with complexity in the cup. The Iringa region lies in Tanzania's Southern Highlands, where the interplay of altitude, latitude and the influence of seasonal rainfall patterns generally shapes a growing environment distinct from the country's lower-elevation zones.

Tanzanian tea estates at this elevation often experience two pronounced growth flushes aligned with the region's bimodal rainfall distribution. The cooler nights and moderate daytime temperatures typical of high-altitude sites tend to favour slower, more even vegetative growth, which can contribute to leaf quality. Soils in the Southern Highlands are generally volcanic in origin, though specific soil series and their influence on plant nutrition vary considerably across the region.

Tea Produced

Kilima produces both black and green teas. Black teas from high-altitude Tanzanian estates such as those in Iringa typically exhibit a brightness and brisk astringency, often with malty or subtly fruity notes, though individual factory processing and clone selection can lead to wide variation. Green tea production in East Africa remains less common than orthodox or CTC black manufacture, and processing style—whether steamed or pan-fired, and the degree of oxidation arrest—will significantly influence the final cup character. Teas from estates at this elevation generally offer a balance of body and clarity, though specific sensory profiles depend on harvest timing, processing rigour and the cultivars under cultivation.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Kilima is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This relationship places the estate within the supply chain of a major retail buyer, indicating that its output meets the quality, traceability and compliance standards required for branded or own-label retail products in a developed market. Unilever's involvement as operator further integrates Kilima into a vertically aligned supply structure, in which production, blending and distribution are coordinated within a single corporate framework. Such arrangements are characteristic of estates supplying volume-driven retail clients, where consistency, cost efficiency and auditable sourcing are paramount.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Kilima is operated by Unilever Tea Tanzania, part of the Unilever group's global tea estates and sourcing network. Unilever Tea Tanzania operates three other estates recorded in our directory, reflecting the company's established presence in Tanzanian tea production. This multi-estate footprint enables operational scale, centralised processing expertise and coordinated supply to Unilever's international blending and retail partners.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

KILIMA lies at -8.5909, 35.2928 in Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of. Its 1963 m elevation is the joint 1st highest of 6 estates we map in Iringa. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• KIBWELE — under 1 km away
• LUGODA — under 1 km away
• Itona Tea Estate — 22 km away · Itona- Mufindi
• Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe — 66 km away · Ninga
• Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory — 66 km away · Ninga

Estates at a Similar Altitude to KILIMA

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match KILIMA (1,963 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. KILIMA recorded 1,215 mm in 2025, 30% less than the 1,747 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
Shagasha Tea Factory	Gisuma, Rwanda	1,964 m	1,875 mm	21.2 °C
Concordia Tea Estate	Kandapola, Sri Lanka	1,962 m	2,796 mm	18.9 °C
Glendale Estate	Coonoor, India	1,961 m	1,459 mm	19.7 °C
GATUNGURU	Mathioya, Kenya	1,961 m	1,518 mm	20.9 °C
Kymulot Factory	Bomet - Tenwek - Silibwet Rd, Kenya	1,967 m	1,088 mm	23.3 °C

KILIMA Compared with Iringa

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

Measure	KILIMA	Region median	Region range
Elevation	1,963 m	1,618 m	1,560 to 1,963 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	1,215 mm	628 mm	628 to 1,215 mm
Mean daily high	19.4 °C	25.4 °C	19.4 to 25.4 °C
Mean overnight low	11.6 °C	14.7 °C	11.6 to 14.8 °C

Observed Climate at KILIMA (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for KILIMA’s coordinates recorded 1,215 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was January (210 mm) and the driest was August (3 mm). Daytime highs averaged 19.4 °C and overnight lows 11.6 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and July the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	1,215 mm
Wettest month	January (210 mm)
Driest month	August (3 mm)
Mean daily high	19.4 °C
Mean overnight low	11.6 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KILIMA located?

KILIMA is in Iringa, Tanzania United Republic Of, at coordinates -8.5909, 35.2928, at an elevation of about 1963 metres.

Who operates KILIMA?

KILIMA is operated by Unilever Tea Tanzania, according to public supply-chain records.

What type of tea does KILIMA produce?

KILIMA is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does KILIMA supply?

Public supplier disclosures record KILIMA as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does KILIMA receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,215 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in January (210 mm).

How does KILIMA compare with estates at a similar elevation?

KILIMA recorded 1,215 mm in 2025, 30% less rain than the 1,747 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].