Take a warm coat. It’s cold at night and foggy in the morning in the highlands west of the Rift Valley. The hills of Kericho have produced great Olympic Gold medalists, like legendary Kipchoge Keino. But its main connection to the world is the Tea Industry.
In 2013, Kenya exported approx. 450 million Kgs of tea, mostly to Asian countries like Pakistan. The local consumption is steady at around 1.5 million Kgs per month!
The tropical, volcanic red soils and the favourable climate of Kericho are perfect conditions for tea production. Here about 60% of harvest is done by small scale farmers, often organised in cooperatives- working alongside multinationals like Unilever. They pick all year long, with two main peak seasons of high crop between March and June and October and December which coincide with the rain seasons.
It’s a beautiful sight to drive by the tea fields. The short bushes planted very tight and perfectly groomed give an amazing impression of lime green hills all around you. A dreamy vision that is far from the bleak reality of the working conditions.
Although tea accounts for about 20% of Kenya's gross domestic product, tea pickers are paid less than $0.10 per kg of picked leaves for a maximum 50kg per day per person. Over 90% of Kenyan tea is hand-picked. Only the finest top two leaves and the bud are used for tea production. Hard work. Added to low wages, sex work, diseases and violence again women remain sore issues for the Kenyan tea industry.
Increasingly, brands are required to improve working environments and socially invest in their communities. And the government is putting labels in place to guarantee fair trading.
Look for the good brands and enjoy the anti-oxydent without moderation!
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