Kenya Milima

Tea bushes were first planted in Limuru, Kenya in 1903 with production and tea plantation regions slowly expanding through highland regions such as Kericho and Nandi until the late 1950's. In 1959 the Tea Board of Kenya was formed due to the recognition that tea could become an important commodity for Kenya and its people. With an increasing number of small-holders now producing varying qualities of tea, it was the Tea Board of Kenya's duty to regulate the ever growing industry. Once regulatory control had taken place, Kenya needed to concentrate on promoting their tea and tea gardens worldwide. Subsequently, in 1964, the Kenya Tea Development Authority was created with the objective of promoting the development of tea cultivation by Kenyan smallholders in suitable areas of the country. The Kenya Tea Development Authority has since done such a great job, that now, over 60% of Kenya's total crop comes from smallholders governed by it.

In the 1960's there was only one tea producing factory situated in Nyeri. Since then, 43 more are now up and running in over 13 distinct tea growing districts throughout Kenya. The factories are now capable of producing more than 30,000 tons of green leaf tea per annum. This weight of tea is vast, where most of the gardens see their tea ending up in "estate" teas or for the European tea-bag market. Out of the 30,000 tons, most, if not all of the tea is black tea that are tippy in appearance and give a strong, rich and full-bodied liquor.

The success of Kenya estate teas can be solely placed on the superb soil, climate and altitudes of the growing districts. The altitudes, necessary for growing fine teas, range from 5,000 to 9,000 feet which in turn provides unique micro-climates with plentiful rainfall and a year-round, spring-like climate supported by warm, moist air rising above Mount Kenya and Lake Victoria. These conditions allow for optimum picking around late January and early February with a good late harvest appearing in July. However, the bushes will crop all year round, but if you are after the best Kenyan teas, try and select an early harvest if possible.

Kenyan teas have surpassed all previous expectations and are now attaining the global recognition they deserve. It is widely recognised that Kenya is ranked amongst the worlds best tea producers and in 1992 was ranked third behind India and China in tonnage. Nowadays, Kenyan tea fetches a high premium on the global tea markets and controls nearly 10% of the total tea production worldwide.

Our Kenya Milima tea is a blend of three tea estates- Kaproret, Samarek and Chemase Estates which are located in the Kericho region of Kenya. A region that retains all of the qualities shown above and is regarded as an exceptional example of Kenyan Estate tea.