By Jane Mugambi
Kirinyaga County, Kenya: Kenya Tea Development Authority(KTDA) has embarked on orthodox production of specialty teas due to the high demand in the world.
Festus Kaburi the manager in charge of specialty teas disclosed that the demand led to an increased production from 1 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes bringing Kenya a KSh 5 billion shillings.
Kaburi said Kenya has 11 tea factories that are producing orthodox teas-and 29 more countries are in queue to produce orthodox teas.
He also said at the Kangaita tea factory, there are special teas like yellow, white, and purple, and demand is very high.
Kaburi disclosed that Kenya’s favorable climate that gives quality leaf has been the secret to the best teas.
“Kenya’s climatic condition is favorable to the best teas that we produce, Kenya tea factories have now ventured into producing the teas that are in demand due to their demand, we have 11 functional factories,” Said Kaburi.
The manager spoke at the Thumaita tea factory during a training session for factory managers in zones five and six so as to produce a high volume of specialty teas especially the orthodox teas which will also train their factory employees.
“We already have a ready market for our specialty teas like India, and China due to its sweetness, we sold 1 million tonnes that have increased by last year to 11 million tonnes bringing Kenya Sh 5 billion in revenue that we are planning to increase by 2030” he added.
With the growth of its demand, more factories are likely to come up.
Thumiats vice chair Isaack Kariuki said that the orthodox price is at Sh 120 available at the factory and outlets like supermarkets.
“The uptake is not that much but we expect to get more consumers locally, the price is at Ksh 120.
Orthodox tea is made from green leaf that is picked from the farms-the process for its making is different from CTC tea.
“Farmers are not going to grow any special teas, it’s the same green leaf picked from our farms” he added.
