Tea growing in Rwanda started in 1952 from Nyamasheke district /Western Province and the first factory for tea manufacturing started in 1962 in Gicumbi district /Northern Province and has contributed immensely to foreign exchange earnings over the years.
Rwandan tea is planted on hillsides at a high altitude of between 1,500m and 2,500 m in 3 provinces (Southern, Western and Northern Provinces of Rwanda). Production of tea has increased steadily, from 60 Metric Tons of tea in 1958 to about 40,874.3 Metric Tons by 2023.
Rwanda tea is known for its high quality and is among the best in the world. Some of the best quality teas produced in Rwanda include; black, orthodox, white, green, organic, and spicy tea.

TEA VALUE ADDITION IN RWANDA

In 2006, Rwanda planned to start Value addition in Tea which comprised of Tea Blending, Scenting, Flavoring and Packing Factory Value addition in Rwanda started in October 2009 aiming to increase tea consumption in Rwanda, Awareness of the Quality of Rwanda tea and Providing Rwandans the Quality tea at affordable price.
Currently, tea Value addition facilities are increasing in number and their capacity of production, from one company in 2009 to 8 in 2023.

TEA MANUFACTURING CAPACITY

Rwanda has 19 operating tea factories with an Installation capacity of manufacturing 1,000,700 tons of tea green leaves per day, about 450,315 tons of Made tea.
currently, 60% of this capacity is being used with tea green leaf reception of 600,420 tons per day to produce a total of 270,189 tons per day.