Pfunda Tea Company (PTC) is located in the North-West of Rwanda
There are 3,600 farmers supplying PTC divided into 2 co-operatives, with 810 Ha of smallholder tea. Over 90% of the tea is smallholder supplied.
Agro-climatic conditions at Pfunda are favourable, with rain averaging 1,400mm per annum. The factory is at 1,750 meters, while the highest tea is at 2,000 meters and lowland tea at 1,700 meters.
The Pfunda Tea Company is located in Rubavu and was privatised by the Government of Rwanda in 2004.
Pfunda Tea Company, located approximately 9 kilometers from Rubavu town on the Kigali–Musanze–Rubavu highway, is a prominent tea producer in Rwanda’s Western Province. The company collaborates with the Pfunda Tea Cooperative, comprising around 3,600 local farmers who supply tea leaves to the factory.
Pfunda Tea Company is part of the Silverback Tea Company, which also manages Gisovu and Rugabano tea estates. The organization emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices, including the initiation of organic vermi-compost production in 2022, aiming for organic and Fairtrade certifications across all estates.
Pfunda
produces 2500 MT annually, 90 MT of tea daily, during peak production in the rainy season. Guided tours are available, offering insights into the entire tea production process—from the arrival of green leaves to withering, cutting, drying, and sorting—culminating in packaging for shipment.
In 2011, Pfunda Tea Company became the first in Rwanda to achieve Rainforest Alliance certification, reflecting its commitment to sustainable and pesticide-free farming practices.
Factory Tea Tour
For visitors, the company offers immersive tours where participants can dress as tea pickers and engage in tea harvesting, providing both educational and photographic opportunities.
PTC offers visitors a hands-on experience of Rwanda’s tea-making process. Spanning vast rolling hills, the plantation provides stunning views of lush green tea bushes. Visitors receive aprons, gloves, and baskets before learning about the tea plant’s lifecycle and the art of manual tea picking, which involves selecting only the top three leaves and the bud.
The factory tour includes stages like drying, grinding, fermentation, tasting, and packaging. The experience concludes with a tea-tasting session
Awards
Pfunda Tea Company Ltd. D1: Recognized as the Best D1 in its category during the National Tea Tasting event, facilitated by NAEB, and awarded a trophy.
Pfunda Tea Company Ltd: Honored to host the International Tea Day Celebrations in Rwanda.
Pfunda Tea Company Ltd: Ranked 8th top producer in terms of average price per year in 2023 by EATTA.
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.
