Tea was first cultivated in Uganda in the early years of the 20th century in the botanical gardens in Entebbe, the capital. The crop was a success and commercial cultivation of tea started in the 1920s. Tea is one of Uganda’s main exports and is grown by both plantation companies and small holder farmers. The tea industry employs more than 60,000 people and supports the livelihood of over half a million people. The majority of Uganda’s tea is finds its way to international markets through the Mombasa Auction where they are then used for teabag blends.
Uganda is endowed with a comparable soil, altitude and climate to that of Kenya. It receives plenty of sunshine and abundant rainfall. Unfortunately, Uganda’s tea industry was decimated by political upheaval in the 70s. Bushes became trees and factories became empty shells. By 1981, Uganda was producing just 5% of the tea it made in 1974.

Uganda’s tea industry came back from near ruin to be stronger and play a vital role in Uganda’s economy. Commonwealth development money, foreign expertise and investment by Indian companies all helped to rehabilitate the tea industry. In 2018, Uganda produced 50 million kg of tea, making it the second largest producer in Africa after Kenya.
Tea is largely grown along the Lake Victoria crescent, the lower slopes of the Rwenzori Mountain (1200-1800 metres above altitude) and above the Western Rift Valley. Tea leaves are harvested either by hand or by shears. Their liquors are of average quality but their leaf is very clean, blackish, grainy and dense.

CONTINUE READING

Tea Flushes Explained
If you’re a tea enthusiast, you'll likely already know that factors such as the garden's location, climate, elevation, and the…

Tips for Healthy Digestion: Guest Blog
Tips for a healthy digestion in this guest blog. Learn how to improve digestive health through making changes to your…

Meet Neil Pavely Tea Room Manager
Ahmad Tea has a global reputation for its tea blending and one person who has witnessed the company grow into…

Boosting Energy: Guest Blog
Discover tips for boosting energy in this guest blog. From natural remedies to lifestyle changes, find out how to increase…

Employee Spotlight – Tim Connor
Tim Connor has been instrumental in growing two important aspects of Ahmad Tea: the growth of its ventures in some…

Period Poverty – supporting Women in Malawi
Ahmad Tea's commitment to making a difference extends beyond providing quality tea products. In 2022 we started supporting Ufulu, a…

Employee Spotlight – Tracey Wakelin
Tracey Wakelin leads the global marketing team at Ahmad Tea. She is responsible for driving the marketing agenda. We caught…

Sleep: Are you getting enough?
Getting the right amount of good quality sleep can be critical to how we function during the day. If you've…

Employee Spotlight – Gary Winslade
This month we caught up with Gary Winslade, Ahmad Tea’s UK Sales Manager to understand more about the brand’s plans…