Heading to Uganda

Origin of ingredients

Kahangi Tea Estate

Terroir

The Kabarole district is located in western Uganda. The region's environment is largely influenced by the presence of the Rwenzori Mountains and the foothills of the Albertine Rift Valley. The climate is tropical, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The soils are sandy, silty and red clay. The region relies on rainfall for soil irrigation, due to seasonal watercourses. Kibale National Park, close to the Kahangi estate, is renowned for its lush biodiversity and tropical forests. The Sebitoli Project, a great ape conservation project, has been studying the chimpanzee population here since 2008.

Community projects

Sales of teas bearing the Save The Chimps label support the Sebitoli Project through donations of 50 cents per tea bag sold. The garden, created in the 1930s and a contributor to the project, bears witness to a troubled past. Due to political unrest in the mid-70s, it was abandoned until it was bought out in 2001. Since 2006, the entire estate has been managed organically and adheres to permaculture principles to ensure sustainable production of its plantations.

Background and challenges

Today, declining crop yields and lack of access to organic tea markets are challenges for the estate. (3)As the country's only certified organic tea producer, the estate employs a majority of female growers from various ethnic backgrounds, all of whom come to grow and harvest tea.