Mwaniki Wahome
30 June 2011
Nairobi — Most tea exports from East Africa go to only four countries, but industry players want to expand the destinations to spread the risks.
To this end, an exhibition and convention will be held in Mombasa next month, aimed at attracting new markets for the commodity, which is a leading foreign exchange earner for Kenya.
“Little is known about African tea. We have the quality and volumes and want to showcase this to the world,” said Mr Tom Muchura, convention chairman and director at East Africa Tea Trade Association (Eatta).
Eatta is a lobby organisation for tea producers, exporters, brokers, tea parkers and warehouse owners.
The theme of the convention is ‘African Tea-Refreshing the world, driving the African economy.’
The convention, organised jointly by Eatta and Tea Board of Kenya, expects to attract 400 delegates from 22 tea producing and consuming countries.
Tea from the region, estimated at 500,000 tonnes per year, out of which Kenya contributes over 350,000 tonnes, is exported to Egypt, Pakistan and Britain.
Mombasa is the auction serving countries in the region, with some imports from other countries that are blended with the local tea.
Mr Muchura said tea from India and China had secured a niche in the international market through centuries and it was time Africa did the same to respond to the changes in the market.
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