Gisovu Tea Company is located 182 Kms from Kigali in the Western Region (Karongi District). Plantations lie at 2,500 m, with rainfall averaging 1,250 mm. The estate plantation comprises 394 Ha in production, with 836 Ha from 3,800 smallholder suppliers. Gisovu is also connected to Nyungwe – an ancient forest which pre-dates the ice age. The forest is home to Chimpanzees and Colobus monkeys and is the source of Gisovu’s special honey.
Silverback Tea from Gisovu Tea Company is highly prized for its briskness, flavour and exceptional quality and has a strong following amongst tea buyers worldwide.
Gisovu Tea Estate has received several accolades over the years, including being named the Best Tea in Africa in 2024 during the 6th African Tea Convention held in Rwanda, and recognized as the the factory of the year in Rwanda by NAEB (National Agricultural Export Development Board) .
GISOVU
produces 2500 MT annually, 70% of which is contributed by the yield from the Cooperative farmers’ fields surrounding the estate.
This makes the Cooperative and its farmers an integral part of Gisovu.
Gisovu teas are grown in the Western Province of Rwanda, also known as ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills.’ The teas are grown at elevations up to 8100 feet above sea level, making them some of the highest grown teas in the world.
The Nyungwe forest rises 9840 feet above sea level and boasts 1068 plant species, 275 bird species, 32 amphibian species, 38 reptile species and 85 mammal species, the most popular being the chimpanzee that often can be seen visiting our tea fields and our honey project. The farthest known source of the river Nile is a mere one hour hike from Gisovu.
ue to the biodiversity of the terroir, its volcanic soil, high rainfall and its ecological balance, no pesticides or external irrigation are used to cultivate the plants in the Rwandan estates.
All of our Rwandan teas are Rainforest Alliance certified and 100% pesticide free.
Honey
The Gisovu Honey Project produces natural, raw honey from the perimeters of the forest. As the bees forage amongst the indigenous flowers unique to the forest, the honey extracted has its own distinctive flavor. The chimpanzees living in the forest often foray into Gisovu for the honey.
Established in 1983 , Gisovu produces some of the finest teas in Africa and is known for its bright, golden, full bodied and brisk cups. The basket of proven quality producing tea cultivars, the high elevation at which the tea grows, Gisovu’s geolocation, the microclimate created by the surrounding Nyungwe forest and our young, acidic, light volcanic soils all come together to bring about the unique Gisovu cup of tea.
Gisovu teas have, over the years received several awards at tea competitions across the globe.
Gisovu teas are an integral component of the Yorkshire tea and Yorkshire Gold, the leading quality tea blends sold in the United Kingdom.
Awards
- Awarded the 1st Factory of the Year 2024 trophy during the International Tea Day Celebrations in Rwanda.
- PF1: Recognized as the Best PF1 in its category during the National Tea Tasting event, facilitated by NAEB, and awarded a trophy
- Recognized by the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) as the top producer in terms of average price per year in 2023, according to the EATTA annual report.
- Recognized by EATTA for having the highest-priced tea in 2023, at 6.84 USD per Kg, an achievement shared with another top Rwandan garden.
- Recognized by the Gender Monitoring Office of the Republic of Rwanda, the Private Sector Federation, UNDP, and UN Women for promoting gender accountability through the Gender Equality Seal Certification Programme.
