Kenyan Specialty and Orthodox Teas.

Jun 07 2019

Kenyan is well known in the world for producing high quality CTC tea. As the market leader for CTC Teas internationally, Kenya decided to diversify into specialty and orthodox teas. This is to penetrate the markets that do not consume CTC tea.

Currently Kenya Tea Development Agency and other Private Sector companies together with a few small cottage factories are engaged in this new adopted manufacturing process. There are only a limited number of factories that are engaged in producing specialty and orthodox teas, hence the quantities are still relatively small.

 Despite manufacturing Specialty and Orthodox teas being relatively new to Kenya, there is potential for immense growth in terms of quantities and quality. The current quality of Kenyan tea, especially where the liquors are concerned, is of the highest standards and is far superior to other producing countries. This is because the factories receive 75% to 80% good standard of succulent sappy green leaf which comes from young, high yielding quality cloned bushes that are well suited for specialty and Orthodox tea manufacture.

Under the specialty tea category, Kenya Tea Research Institute introduced a special clone which was introduced to the Tea World as Purple Tea. The Tea leaf itself is purple in color and has immense health benefits. Purple Tea is processed in very limited quantities and in various forms which is attracting premium prices.

With the supervision and guidance of AFFA Tea Directorate, A specialty Tea Committee has been formed. The committee will be responsible to adopt strategies for long term growth of this new venture. Also, they meet periodically to evaluate, review and analyze the development of these new products. This is in order to take Kenyan Specialty and Orthodox Tea to the next level with the help of industry specialist in Tea Tasting, Grading and Marketing.