Kenya Tea
Kenya tea is some of the best quality black tea in the world. In fact, tea from Kenya has won international acclaim for its taste and aroma. Kenya tea is so popular that it is the beverage of choice served in restaurants and cafés across Kenya.
 |
Kenya is one of the world's top producers and exporters of tea. Kenyan tea is also the top foreign exchange earner, followed by horticulture, tourism and Kenyan coffee. Most of the exported Kenyan tea is blended with other teas to produce some of the popular blends available in stores today. However, in its purest form, Kenyan tea is gaining recognition in markets across the world because it has been proved to have higher levels of antioxidants compared to teas produced in other parts of the world.
Tea Growing Areas in Kenya
Most Kenya tea is grown in the highlands west of the Rift Valley, at high altitudes between 1500 to 2700 meters. Kericho region, in particular, is where most of the large-scale tea plantations are found. Other tea farming also takes place in the highlands east of the Rift Valley as well as in central Kenya.
Quality of Kenya Tea - Rich in Antioxidants
Kenyan black tea is known to have higher levels of antioxidants compared to teas from other parts of the world. The quality of black tea depends on the number of top young leaves harvested, the mode of harvesting, and the care with which the green leaves are handled. Only the upper young leaves and a bud are handpicked and skillfully processed. Kenyan tea has a distinct bright color and aromatic flavor, thanks to the country's tropical climate and rich volcanic soils.
Kenya Black Tea Production Process - CTC Tea & Orthodox Tea
Black tea is processed from young, downy leaves, buds and stems which are then fermented before being rolled and dried. Tea processing is accomplished through the cut, twist and curl (CTC) process, where all the leaves, buds and stems are crushed/ground to equal sizes, mostly dust and fannings, yielding stronger, thicker and brighter teas and ensuring a higher number of cups of tea per unit measure. Most of the teas packaged in tea bags is produced using the CTC method.
On the other hand, the orthodox method of processing tea is a traditional method of Kenya tea production that involves rolling leaf into smaller particles, suitable for multiple infusions. Orthodox tea production uses only top quality leaves and buds that produce strong, robust flavor resulting in higher quality and better tasting tea than CTC teas. Most specialty tea is orthodox tea.
Green Tea from Kenya
Kenya is not only winning acclaim for its black tea, but its green tea is gaining an earnest edge. Due to the anti-oxidants and health benefits derived from green tea, Kenya is now producing and packaging green tea, white tea and orthodox tea for the health-conscious consumer.
Unlike the production process for black tea, green tea is processed without fermentation in order to preserve the nutrients that contain the health benefits. Freshly cut, young, downy leaves are steamed and then rolled and dried to make green tea. White tea, on the other hand, is made from tea buds.
Buying / Selling Process of Kenya Tea
About 60 percent of the tea in Kenya is produced by small-scale farmers. These farmers then sell their produce through the Kenya Tea Development Authority, the body in charge of collecting and processing the tea leaves, who in turn sell it to the outside market through the auction process or by direct sales and other private factory offers. Some small-scale farmers also sell their teas directly to consumers, private buyers and importers/exporters without necessarily going through the normal auction process.
The remaining 40 percent of Kenyan tea is grown on large, privately-owned farms. The owners of these farms process and then sell their tea through the Mombasa Tea Auction, the second largest tea auction in the world.
Tea from Kenya is bought and exported as blended, packaged, loose or straight-line (pure Kenyan tea) - as per specific market or customer requirement. Tea bought from the Mombasa Tea Auction or through direct sales and other private arrangements is then exported to Egypt, United Kingdom, Unites States, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, India, China and many other international destinations.
Where to buy Kenya Tea in Bulk or Wholesale
If you are interested in buying tea from Kenya in wholesale or bulk/large quantities, contact us and we will connect you with reputable Kenyan tea buyers, packers and exporters in Kenya who trade tea in high quality black, green and orthodox Kenya tea, on behalf of farmers in Kenya.
