Kenya on Wednesday made history when it held its first-ever auction of Kenyan orthodox tea at the Mombasa Tea Auction, marking a significant milestone for the country’s tea sector.
Orthodox tea, unlike the traditional CTC (Cut, Tear, Curl) tea, is produced using a meticulous multi-step process that includes plucking, withering, rolling, oxidizing, and drying. This results in whole, unbroken leaves that are highly valued for their complex aromas, rich flavors, and suitability for specialty varieties such as black, green, and oolong teas.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe presided over the historic sale, where the first batch of Kenyan orthodox tea sold for USD 3.72 (about Sh481) per kilo. A total of 2,925 packages, weighing 91,798 kilos, went under the hammer.
“The global tea market has changed. Our traditional CTC teas are now facing flat demand and depressed prices,” Kagwe said. “The mismatch between production and consumption has led to unsold stocks and lower earnings, despite the excellent work of our farmers.”
Kenya produced 7.51 million kilos of orthodox tea in 2024, with about five million kilos exported. This was a drop from 12.34 million kilos in 2023, largely due to challenges in the Iran market, though Kagwe noted that high-level discussions are underway to restore access.
Despite the dip in production, Kenya’s tea industry earned a record Sh215 billion in 2024, up from Sh180 billion in 2023 and Sh138 billion in 2022. Kagwe emphasized that diversifying into orthodox and specialty teas—currently dominated by Sri Lanka, India, and China—is a priority, given the segment’s six per cent annual growth.
Today, Kenya has 22 licensed orthodox tea manufacturers, with the number expected to nearly double to 42 by 2027. Prices for KTDA orthodox teas in 2024 ranged between USD 3.40 and USD 4.16 per kilo, significantly higher than the average USD 2.28 per kilo fetched by bulk CTC teas.
East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) CEO George Omuga said the auction was not just historic for Kenya but for global tea markets: “It is our time to show the world the quality of Kenyan orthodox tea. Today, the world is looking at Mombasa.”
Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) CEO Willy Mutai revealed that the journey toward orthodox tea began seven years ago, with efforts to align production with global grading standards. TBK has since licensed 42 factories and established a tea verification laboratory in Mombasa to guarantee quality and transparency.
TBK chairman Ndungu Gathinji added that the launch reflects Kenya’s strategy to diversify and reposition its tea in global markets, ensuring Mombasa retains its status as the world’s leading tea trading hub.
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) chair Chege Kirundi noted that 13 companies are already producing orthodox tea, with another 13 factories under construction. The current capacity stands at over 10 million kilograms per year, with plans to double production within four years.
EATTA chair Ahmed Hussein remarked that orthodox tea is not new to Kenya, but had been sidelined in favor of CTC. “We have the best quality, but ignored this area. It is the right decision to restart production,” he said, noting that orthodox tea requires hand-plucking—creating more jobs and guaranteeing higher quality.
With rising global demand for orthodox teas, industry leaders expressed optimism that Kenya’s renewed focus will not only boost earnings but also cement the country’s position as a leader in the premium tea market.
