In short: DL Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory is a tea estate and processing facility in Ninga, Njombe region, Tanzania, operating at 1,770 metres above sea level and known to supply Finlays.
DL Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory is a tea estate and processing facility located in the Ninga area of Njombe region in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Operating at an altitude of 1,770 metres above sea level, the estate produces both black and green tea. It is known to supply Finlays, one of the world's large-scale tea and beverage operators.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,770 metres above sea level, the estate sits within the high-altitude growing zones typical of Tanzania's southern highlands. Estates at this elevation generally experience cooler temperatures and a slower growing cycle than lowland gardens, conditions that tend to encourage more measured leaf development and the accumulation of polyphenols. The southern latitude and altitude together often produce a pronounced diurnal temperature variation, which can influence both yield patterns and the character of harvested leaf.
Njombe region typically receives well-distributed rainfall throughout much of the year, with the higher elevations benefiting from mist and cloud cover that moderate temperature extremes. These conditions generally favour the cultivation of quality black tea and, increasingly, green tea production, as the slower growth and cooler nights tend to preserve the amino acids and volatile compounds sought in both styles. Estates in this zone often harvest year-round, though flush intensity may vary with the wet and dry seasons.
Tea Produced
The estate produces both black and green tea. Black teas from high-altitude Tanzanian estates in this region typically yield a brisk, clean cup with good body and a bright, coppery colour, characteristics associated with the slower maturation of leaf at cooler elevations. Green teas produced in these southern highland zones often display a fresh, vegetal character with moderate astringency, though profile can vary considerably depending on processing technique and plucking standard. Estates at this altitude generally produce leaf suited to both orthodox and CTC manufacture, though specific processing methods employed at this factory are not detailed in available records.
Supply Chain & Market Position
The estate is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a vertically integrated tea business with plantations, blending, and packing operations across multiple continents. This relationship suggests that the estate's output is directed into global supply chains serving retail, food service, and branded tea markets. Finlays' presence as a buyer typically indicates production volumes and quality standards aligned with commercial-scale international demand, though the precise contractual arrangements and volumes involved are not publicly documented.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe lies at -9.1066, 35.0034 in Ninga, Tanzania United Republic Of. Its 1770 m elevation is the joint 5th highest of 16 estates we map in Tanzania United Republic Of. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory — under 1 km away
- KIBWELE — 66 km away · Iringa
- KILIMA — 66 km away · Iringa
- LUGODA — 66 km away · Iringa
- Itona Tea Estate — 69 km away · Itona- Mufindi
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe (1,770 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe recorded 1,053 mm in 2025, 24% less than the 1,394 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUNUNGA | Kerugoya, Kenya | 1,769 m | 1,066 mm | 21.6 °C |
| Kanyenya-Ini Tea Factory Company Ltd | KANGEMA, Kenya | 1,775 m | 1,161 mm | 23.0 °C |
| Kilkotagiri | Tamil Nadu, India | 1,780 m | 1,459 mm | 20.9 °C |
| Jun Chiyabari Tea Garden | Dhankuta Municipality Ward No 1, Nepal | 1,786 m | 2,160 mm | 19.4 °C |
| Nyabihu Tea Estate | NR16, Rwanda | 1,746 m | 1,122 mm | 23.2 °C |
Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe Compared with Tanzania United Republic Of
In Tanzania United Republic Of, Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe is drier than 73% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 67% of the others by elevation; cooler than 67% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe against the 15 other estates we map in Tanzania United Republic Of, so you can see whether it is typical for its country or an outlier.
| Measure | Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe | Country median | Country range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,770 m | 1,560 m | 7 to 1,963 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,053 mm | 1,094 mm | 628 to 2,554 mm |
| Mean daily high | 21.6 °C | 21.7 °C | 19.4 to 30.4 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.5 °C | 14.6 °C | 11.6 to 23.7 °C |
Observed Climate at Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe’s coordinates recorded 1,053 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was January (230 mm) and the driest was August (4 mm). Daytime highs averaged 21.6 °C and overnight lows 12.5 °C over the year; December was the warmest month and July the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,053 mm |
| Wettest month | January (230 mm) |
| Driest month | August (4 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 21.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 12.5 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe located?
Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe is in Ninga, Tanzania United Republic Of, at coordinates -9.1066, 35.0034, at an elevation of about 1770 metres.
Who operates Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe?
Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe is operated by Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe produce?
Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,053 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in January (230 mm).
How does Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Dl Teas Tanzania, Kibena Tea Factory- Njombe recorded 1,053 mm in 2025, 24% less rain than the 1,394 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].
