Williamson Tea Farms in Kenyan Highlands

Williamson Tea is a family owned company which has been farming the finest quality tea for drinkers across the world sine 1869 and today remains one of the worlds largest tea producers with 4 Kenyan estates in Changoi, Kapchorua, Kaimosi and Tinderet. Our farms are set in the spectacular Kenyan Highlands and produce some of the worlds finest teas. There are rolling hills carpeted in neat, bright green tea bushes as far as you can see. The climate here is perfect for tea with rain falling almost every afternoon. Our farms are based in Nandi and Kericho districts.

TINDERET Tea Farm: or Shangri-la to the people who live here, means the "place of lightning", positioned in the Rift Valley close to the Equator. The mornings are sunny but the afternoons often see flashes of lightning. Planted Area: 707 hectares. Altitude of factory: 2130m (max 2292m & min 1766m). Nearest township is Kericho.

CHANGOI Tea Farm: The name ‘Changoi’ is derived from a local community family name “CHANGWONY”. Planted Area: 932.10 hectares. Altitude of factory: 1800m (max 1920m & min 1720m). Nearest township is Kericho.

KAIMOSI Tea Farm: Planted Area: 454 hectares. Altitude of factory: 1770m (max 1825m & min 1695m) Nearest township is Kapsabet.

KAPCHORUA Tea Farm: Kenya is without doubt God’s gift to tea production and one of the company's estates is at high altitude (6-7000ft) set in beautiful rolling hills. Being on the equator it is warmer, and can produce the tea all year round. The tea is known for its distinctive brightness and briskness and you’ll find it a most invigorating. Planted Area: 673.25 hectares. Altitude of factory: 2080m (max 2120m & min 2050m) Nearest township is Nandi Hills.

Stories from our expert Tea Farmers

MOSETI KEMBENYA A spreader in the factory says, “I have always liked Tinderet and so have my sons. He came to Tinderet in 1956 and remembers the first tea bushes which he participated in planting in 1957. Moseti has two sons who were born, brought up here and educated in the local schools and eventually joined him in the estate to work. Moseti says he has benefited alot from the estate and he is happy with his work, although he is planning to retire soon. He says he has used the money he got as wages to educate his sons and build a permanent house in his home district, where he plans to rest when he retires.

ESTHER FORD A tea picker in the field quips “I am Tinderet and Tinderet is me”. She remembers the exact date when she came to Tinderet, 4th October 1960, with her husband and three children. She remembers how the nice looking green tea bushes she sees now were planted. “All this place” she gestures with her hands “was forest. Tea was only about 20 hectares”. She says the money obtained has been used to educate the children and has bought a six hectare farm where she is planning to settle when she retires.