While the world pride in its prestigious black tea, Kenya farmers are grappling with low prices leading to low export due to weakening currencies by its key buyers.
Kenyan farmers have since abandoned the crush, tear and curl (CTC) method and embraced orthodox tea production methods all in an effort to woe new customers and stay afloat against the fluctuating prices.
Unlike churning out the ultra tea leaves for teabags, farms are now testing a wide range of boutique tea, through rollers which gently and slowly massage green leaves into a savoured and complex tones and appearance.
AFP reported that the 21% price drop in 2018-2019 forced the farms to abandon CTC in favour of the new method so as to get more from every tea bush.
"CTC has been good for us for many years, though the drop in price has made us to resolve to this. It will help us ease pressure. At the same time explore this new market," - said Antony Naftali, Operations manager at Gitugi Tea Factory said.
Despite tea being a pillar of Kenya's economy and a staple drink, Kenya consumes less compared to what she export something that has seen tea companies register losses, resulting to protests by farmers due to low returns.
At the same time, Kenya oversupplied its tea and relied on a few buyers, Pakistan, UK and Egypt, Iran, Sudan and Yemen. These countries have been occasioned by weakening currencies which has affected the fall in tea prices.
KTDA chief executive, Lerionka Tiampati stated that the market is highly unstable.
"When you cannot control the price, then there is not very much you can do. That's why we are trying to diversify the product."