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

Ahmad Tea wins gold at EcoVadis
We are celebrating our global processing and distribution plant in UAE winning a gold award from EcoVadis. The EcoVadis rating analyses a company’s environmental, labour…

All About the Tea Taster
Revealing the people and processes behind our favourite blends. In this journal we’ll reveal some of the unsung heroes behind our favourite brews - the…

University of Bristol Student Interview
An interview with the Ahmad Tea University of Bristol Scholarship student, sharing their progress so far.

World Health Day: Spotlight on Assam
Celebrating World Health Day & our Assam Project with Children in Need India, which focuses on maternal and infant health as well as childhood nutrition.

Celebrating World Water Day 2022
This year we are celebrating the success of our clean water project in Niger, a landlocked country in Africa which is affected by persistent drought.

International Women’s Day 2022: Women’s Resilience in Niger
For International Women’s Day 2022, Ahmad Tea is celebrating women’s resilience and exploring how the water project with Oxfam has empowered women in Niger, Africa.

Loose Leaf Tea vs Teabags – Which one is Best?
Shedding some light on the age-old debate. in this blog we’ll look into the differences and things to consider - then you can decide for…

Building the Razavi Medical Complex, Sri Lanka
On World Cancer Day 2022 we look back on the Razavi Medical Complex cancer hospital project, funded by Ahmad Tea, and celebrate its success.

The growth of the alcohol-free movement
With the Dry January 2022 under way, we explore the growth of the alcohol-free movement and identify the opportunities for tea companies.