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Kenyan tea grown in Nyamira wins top prize in US competition

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Published on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 06:32

Ajiri black tea produced by Nyansiongo Tea Factory in Nyamira County has won an award at the 2011 North America Tea Championship. Ajiri won first position in the black tea category of hot tea class. More than 200 teas were entered in 18 different categories.

The teas were professionally evaluated and ranked to determine the highest quality and best tasting available to the commercial marketplace.

Ajiri emerged tops after a panel of professional cuppers judged on a variety of factors, including dry leaf brewed color, brewed aroma, brewed flavour and brewed harmony. “The ratings of each characteristic were then used to calculate an overall numerical value on a 100-point scale, and winners were determined by rank,” said Kim Jage, Executive Vice President, World Tea Media producers of the North American Tea Championship.

Last year Ajiri won the “Best New Product” at the World Tea Expo, said Ajiri Tea co-founder Sara Holby.“This year we won the award for the best black tea. This is very exciting for us and for the Kenyan farmers at the Nyansiongo Tea Factory,” said Sara. “Now everyone will know how great Kenyan tea really is,” Sara said.

The tea is produced at the Rainforest Alliance Certified Nyansiongo Tea Factory owned by over 12,000 local farmers. Beyond its award-winning tea and eye-catching package, Ajiri Tea has a social mission — to employ women in western Kenya and to educate the local orphans in their communities.

Ajiri Tea currently employs 63 women to handcraft the label on each box of tea. 100 per cent of the profits from Ajiri Tea are donated to the Ajiri Foundation, currently sponsoring 19 children in school.

Founded in 2009 by a mother-daughter team, Ajiri Tea is currently available at over 200 specialty retailers throughout the US.