In short: Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is a tea estate in the Fort Portal region of Uganda, operating at 1,498 metres and known to supply Finlays.
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is a tea estate and processing facility located in the Fort Portal region of Uganda, operating at an elevation of 1,498 metres. The estate is operated by Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd itself and is recorded as supplying Finlays, one of the leading tea and coffee suppliers in the global market.
Terroir & Climate
At 1,498 metres, Mabale sits in the mid-elevation range typical of Uganda's western tea-growing districts. Estates at this altitude in equatorial Africa generally benefit from moderate temperatures and relatively stable day lengths year-round, conditions that tend to support continuous vegetative growth rather than the sharply defined seasonal flushes seen at higher latitudes. The Fort Portal region lies close to the Rwenzori Mountains, and the local climate is typically influenced by orographic rainfall patterns, which can sustain soil moisture and encourage steady leaf production.
Mid-elevation equatorial terroirs often yield leaf with a balance between the briskness associated with cooler highland gardens and the body that lower, warmer sites tend to produce. Soils in the Fort Portal area are generally volcanic in origin, which can contribute mineral complexity, though specific soil composition at Mabale has not been verified. The consistent warmth and humidity typical of this latitude and elevation tend to favour vigorous canopy growth and require careful plucking discipline to maintain leaf quality.
Tea Produced
Mabale produces both black and green tea. Black teas from mid-elevation Ugandan estates in the Fort Portal area typically yield a cup that is full-bodied and malty, with moderate astringency and a reddish-brown liquor. The equatorial growing conditions tend to produce leaf with good colour and strength, characteristics valued in blending markets. Green tea production at estates more traditionally focused on black tea is less common in Uganda, and processing expertise can vary; when well-made, green teas from this elevation and region may offer a rounded, slightly sweet character with less of the grassy brightness typical of higher-altitude or more northerly origins.
Supply Chain & Market Position
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is recorded as supplying Finlays, a major international tea supplier with a presence across multiple origin countries and a diverse customer base spanning retail brands, foodservice, and out-of-home channels. Supply to Finlays suggests that Mabale's output is destined for blending and commercial markets rather than single-estate retail, and that the estate meets the quality and consistency standards required by large-scale buyers. Finlays' involvement also indicates that Mabale is integrated into global supply chains, with production likely subject to traceability and compliance expectations common among multinational buyers.
- Recorded supplier to Finlays
Operator
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd operates the estate under its own name, suggesting a grower-owned or cooperative structure rather than management by a larger plantation group. No other estates operated by Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd are recorded in our directory, indicating that it is a standalone operation. This structure is not uncommon in Uganda's tea sector, where smallholder cooperatives and independent factories play a significant role alongside corporate estates.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd lies at 0.7146, 30.4620 in Fort Portal, Uganda. Its 1498 m elevation is the 8th highest of 11 estates we map in Fort Portal. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- MABALE — under 1 km away · Mabale
- KYENJOJO — under 1 km away · Mabale
- Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Kiko Factory, Kibale Garden — 7.0 km away
- Mcleod Russel Uganda Limited, Mwenge Tea Factory, Rwenzori Garden — 11 km away
- Kijura Tea Company — 12 km away · Western
Estates at a Similar Altitude to Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd
Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd (1,498 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd recorded 1,236 mm in 2025, 41% less than the 2,102 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pita Ratmalie Tea Factory | B147, Sri Lanka | 1,498 m | 2,188 mm | 22.5 °C |
| Thumaita | Kenya, Kenya | 1,499 m | 1,274 mm | 24.0 °C |
| IKUMBI | THIKA, Kenya | 1,500 m | 956 mm | 25.1 °C |
| Guderale | Kerala, India | 1,501 m | 3,791 mm | 21.6 °C |
| Bogawantalawa Plantations, Loinorn | Central Province, Sri Lanka | 1,493 m | 2,299 mm | 23.0 °C |
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd Compared with Fort Portal
In Fort Portal, Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is drier than 90% of the others by 2025 rainfall; lower than 70% of the others by elevation; warmer than 70% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd against the 10 other estates we map in Fort Portal, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.
| Measure | Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd | Region median | Region range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,498 m | 1,515 m | 1,141 to 1,533 m |
| Annual rainfall (2025) | 1,236 mm | 1,251 mm | 943 to 1,382 mm |
| Mean daily high | 25.6 °C | 24.5 °C | 24.5 to 27.8 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.9 °C | 16.1 °C | 16.1 to 18.0 °C |
Observed Climate at Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd’s coordinates recorded 1,236 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was April (186 mm) and the driest was January (4 mm). Daytime highs averaged 25.6 °C and overnight lows 15.9 °C over the year; February was the warmest month and August the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 1,236 mm |
| Wettest month | April (186 mm) |
| Driest month | January (4 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 25.6 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 15.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd located?
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is in Fort Portal, Uganda, at coordinates 0.7146, 30.4620, at an elevation of about 1498 metres.
Who operates Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd?
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is operated by Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd, according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd produce?
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd is recorded as producing black and green tea.
Which buyers does Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd supply?
Public supplier disclosures record Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd as supplying Finlays.
How much rain does Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 1,236 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in April (186 mm).
How does Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd compare with estates at a similar elevation?
Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd recorded 1,236 mm in 2025, 41% less rain than the 2,102 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].
