Kenyan tea is gaining fresh global recognition as Murang’a County’s high-altitude tea advances toward Geographical Indication (GI) certification, a move expected to position it as a premium specialty product in international markets.
The milestone was marked at Gatura Greens Tea Farm during a curated tea tasting event that brought together senior government officials, financiers, diplomats, and international buyers. The initiative has already attracted interest from global specialty tea brands, including Palais des Thés of France, signalling growing demand for traceable, origin-specific Kenyan tea.
The tasting session was attended by French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr James Mwangi, and François-Xavier Delmas, Founder and CEO of Palais des Thés. Guests sampled Murang’a tea varieties while learning about the unique agro-climatic conditions and processing techniques that define the region’s production.
GI certification to elevate Murang’a tea globally
Geographical Indication certification would formally recognize Murang’a tea as a product whose quality and reputation are directly linked to its place of origin. The county’s high altitude, cool climate, fertile soils, and skilled smallholder farming practices combine to produce teas with distinctive flavour profiles sought after in premium global markets.
Once certified, Murang’a tea would join a select group of origin-protected agricultural products, enhancing price realization, strengthening branding, and improving income stability for farmers.
Smallholder farmers at the centre of the value chain
The initiative highlights the role of more than 85,000 smallholder tea farmers across Murang’a County whose livelihoods depend on sustainable tea production. Stakeholders emphasized that GI certification is not only a branding tool but also a framework for reinforcing quality standards, traceability, and environmental stewardship across the value chain.
By formalizing production and processing standards, the initiative aims to ensure that farmers benefit directly from higher-value markets rather than remaining exposed to commodity price volatility.
Equity Group backs value addition and traceability
Equity Group has played a central role in advancing the Murang’a tea initiative through targeted financial and technical support. The Group has financed factory upgrades, supported farmer capacity building, and facilitated the shift toward orthodox tea production, a premium processing method increasingly favoured in specialty markets.
Equity has also supported the rollout of traceability systems, enabling buyers to track tea from farm to cup, a key requirement for premium international markets and GI certification.
These interventions are strengthening Murang’a’s position as a producer of differentiated, high-quality tea rather than bulk commodity output.
International interest signals market opportunity
The participation of Palais des Thés underscores growing global appetite for African specialty teas with clear provenance and sustainability credentials. France is among the world’s leading specialty tea markets, and early engagement with buyers enhances Murang’a tea’s prospects once GI certification is secured.
Stakeholders noted that partnerships between farmers, county governments, financiers, and global buyers will be critical in scaling premium tea exports while preserving quality and origin integrity.
As Kenya seeks to move up the agricultural value chain, Murang’a’s GI journey offers a model for how origin branding, farmer support, and market access can converge to unlock higher earnings and long-term competitiveness.
