Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi on Thursday flagged off the first ever consignment of Kenyan value-added tea to Australia.
Linturi said the tea consignment which is 2.68 metric tons valued at Sh3,706,966.62 is being shipped to Australia under the Kenyan Brand “Akina”.
He said the tea is expected to fetch an average price of Sh1374.45 per kilo in Australia.
"Currently, similar tea being sold in bulk at the Mombasa tea auction are fetching on average Sh312.38 per kilo," he said.
Linturi said Kenyan tea is only known in a few markets globally as it is largely used for blending with tea from other producing countries.
"It is then packed for distribution to other export markets under other brand identities."
The CS said the opening up of the Australian market for Kenya value-added tea with a Kenyan brand name is a significant development for the Kenyan tea industry.
"It will not only expand the market base for Kenyan tea but will also shield the Kenyan tea industry from overreliance on a few traditional markets," Linturi said.
He said adding value to Kenyan tea before export is a viable route for growing the country’s manufactured exports.
The move will also transform the tea sub-sector in Kenya and ensure food security.
Linturi said the ministry, through the Tea Board of Kenya will continue to offer the necessary support to all tea packers, buyers and exporters.
He said the ministry will help the players in the tea industry to utilise the opportunities existing in the emerging markets.
Linturi said emerging markets are more receptive to value added teas.
