GETTING THE BEST OUT OF KENYAN TEA
A visit to Finlays Tea Extracts Kenya
Words: Natalie Chanthavong
Following its separation from James Finlay Kenya in 2023, Finlays Tea Extracts Kenya is going from strength to strength in offering worldclass tea extracts and aromas to the global market.
Kenya, renowned for its beautiful landscapes and rich culture, is home to some of the world's finest tea farms. Earlier this year, I was privileged to travel from the US to Kericho to visit Finlays Tea Extracts Kenya (FTEK), our extract facility which nestles among the tea fields.
My journey to Kericho took me through rolling hills of tea bushes and a different village on each corner, complete with housing, schools and medical facilities, catering to the needs of its residents. But as quickly became apparent on my arrival at FTEK, this rural and idyllic setting belies a thoroughly modern and technologically advanced tea extraction facility…
FTEK helped to pioneer the development of tea extracts over 60 years ago, and today it remains a major manufacturer and supplier of tea extracts and aromas to the global market. Critically, FTEK is one of few tea extraction facilities in the world situated on a tea farm, meaning it can create some truly exceptional extracts.
Its location gives it unparalleled agricultural understanding, bush-to-beverage traceability and the ability to create bespoke tea extract solutions.
The team at FTEK produces a wide range of tea extracts and aromas with unique flavor profiles tailored to customer needs. These include black and green tea extracts (spray dried), tea aroma, as well as tea matching. FTEK’s finely honed process of crafting tea powder and tea aroma results in a bold, tea-forward flavor profile – an attribute that US markets look for and find appealing.
A commitment to World Class Manufacturing underpins everything the team at FTEK do. This approach is a framework and culture of disciplined behaviors and practices, with a constant focus on the customer.
FTEK gets its tea from the neighboring tea farms, owned by Browns Plantations Kenya (BPK). BPK’s Applied Research Department (ARD) is known for its dedication and impressive knowledge of tea cultivation. The team’s work in developing new tea breeds focuses on improving flavor, yield, disease resistance, and growth.
For customers, this means FTEK delivers a product of the highest quality. This dedication to excellence guarantees a superior product and supports sustainable farming practices, benefiting the consumer and the environment.
FTEK might have been in the tea extraction business for over 60 years, but it is constantly evolving to meet global customer needs. The newest capability is a line designed to create specialty tea extracts such as purple tea, white tea, and botanicals, allowing Finlays’ customers to stay ahead of trends. Crucially, it will also offer greater agility and speed to market through smaller Minimum Order Quantities. This will allow Finlays to cater to a wider range of businesses and offer greater customization, so customers can experiment with new flavors, fostering innovation.
FTEK sits upon the tea farms formerly known as James Finlay Kenya (now BPK), which showcase renewable resources such as solar panels, hydro energy, fuelwood steam power and biowaste plants, highlighting a strong commitment to sustainable operation. This leads to a higher quality product, as healthier growing conditions yield better tea. Therefore, FTEK offers exceptional tea and promotes environmental preservation, aligning with the values of customers who prioritize sustainability. In addition to this, FTEK is currently developing its own site-specific energy roadmap as part of the net-zero initiatives.
To ensure supply sustainability, FTEK is embedding a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) program to manage all suppliers.
In the heart of Kenya's tea growing region, FTEK offers decades of expertise to produce exceptional tea extracts and aromas. Its commitment to World Class Manufacturing means that every product meets the highest standard of quality. Choosing FTEK means choosing tea extracts that excel on quality, innovation, and sustainability.
Natalie Chanthavong
Tea Marketing Associate Natalie.Chanthavong@finlays.net
