Ngere Tea Factory was honored to host a distinguished tea industry delegation from Sri Lanka, one of the world’s leading tea-producing nations. The visit, held as part of a regional knowledge exchange and benchmarking program, brought together experts, factory managers, and stakeholders from Sri Lanka’s tea sector to learn from Kenya’s smallholder tea model and explore opportunities for collaboration.

During the visit, the delegation toured key sections of Ngere Tea Factory, including the green leaf reception, withering troughs, CTC processing lines, fermentation area, and packaging unit. Special attention was given to the factory’s value addition initiatives, particularly the Highland Classic brand, which represents a bold step toward boosting farmer earnings through local tea branding and distribution.

Ngere Tea Factory management and Board members welcomed the guests and facilitated interactive discussions on best practices in tea processing, quality control, farmer engagement, and sustainable operations. The visitors expressed keen interest in Kenya’s smallholder-based tea value chain and KTDA’s model of farmer ownership and governance.

This exchange highlighted the importance of cross-border partnerships in advancing the global tea industry. Both parties expressed optimism about continued collaboration in research, market access, and innovations in value addition.

The factory remains committed to sharing knowledge and fostering partnerships that enhance the welfare of farmers and strengthen the tea sector in Africa and beyond.