NJOMBE

Njombe is a tea estate located in the Iringa region of Tanzania, positioned at an elevation of 1,560 metres. The estate is operated by Kibena, which also runs at least one other tea-growing operation recorded in industry directories. Njombe is known to supply Morrisons, the British supermarket chain.

Terroir & Climate

At 1,560 metres above sea level, Njombe occupies a mid-to-high elevation site in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Estates at this altitude typically experience cooler temperatures and greater diurnal variation than lowland gardens, conditions that tend to slow leaf growth and can contribute to more nuanced biochemical development in the flush. The Iringa region's position several degrees south of the equator generally supports year-round growing, though rainfall patterns and temperature swings often shape distinct seasonal peaks in production.

Tea cultivation in Tanzania's southern highlands typically benefits from deep volcanic soils and well-distributed precipitation, both characteristic of the area surrounding Njombe. The interplay of altitude, latitude, and local microclimate tends to favour the production of both oxidised and unoxidised teas, allowing estates in the region to diversify output according to market demand. Frost is uncommon at this elevation in this latitude, but cooler nights are frequent enough to influence the pace and character of vegetative growth.

Tea Produced

Njombe produces both black and green tea. East African black teas from estates at comparable elevations often yield bright, brisk liquors with clean astringency and a relatively full body, characteristics that suit both blending and single-origin preparation. Green teas from the region tend to be less common in international commerce but typically display a straightforward, vegetal character with moderate sweetness. The cooler nights at 1,560 metres may contribute to slower oxidation kinetics and a slightly more complex flavour development during processing, though specific cup profiles will vary with factory technique and seasonal conditions.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Njombe is recorded as a supplier to Morrisons, one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. This connection places the estate within a retail supply chain that prioritises volume, consistency, and competitive pricing, typical of the UK mainstream tea market. Supply relationships of this kind often involve intermediary traders or packers, though the presence of Njombe's name in sourcing records suggests a degree of traceability. The estate's dual output of black and green tea may afford some flexibility in meeting buyer specifications or responding to shifts in consumer demand within Morrisons' own-label or branded tea ranges.

• Recorded supplier to  Morrisons

Operator

Njombe is operated by Kibena, a company that runs at least one other tea estate catalogued in industry directories. Multi-estate operators of this scale typically benefit from shared agronomic expertise, centralised processing infrastructure, and consolidated marketing, which can offer advantages in negotiating supply contracts and maintaining quality standards across sites. The presence of Kibena in Tanzania's southern highlands reflects the region's longstanding role in the country's tea sector.

Location & Neighbouring Estates

NJOMBE 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:

• KIBENA — 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 NJOMBE

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match NJOMBE (1,560 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. NJOMBE 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

NJOMBE Compared with Iringa

In Iringa, NJOMBE 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 NJOMBE against the 5 other estates we map in Iringa, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	NJOMBE	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 NJOMBE (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for NJOMBE’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 NJOMBE located?

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

Who operates NJOMBE?

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

What type of tea does NJOMBE produce?

NJOMBE is recorded as producing black and green tea.

Which buyers does NJOMBE supply?

Public supplier disclosures record NJOMBE as supplying Morrisons.

How much rain does NJOMBE receive?

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

How does NJOMBE compare with estates at a similar elevation?

NJOMBE 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].