Twenty years ago, Rwanda Mountain Tea did not exist. What existed were two government-owned tea factories, assets the Rwandan state had decided to divest and an investor who saw something in them that others had not yet seen.
That investor was Egide Gatera. The year was 2006. And the decision he made then has shaped the story of Rwandan tea ever since.
How It Started: Two Factories and a Government Divestment
In 2006, the Rwandan government began privatising its tea sector as part of a broader economic liberalisation strategy. Tea estates that had been state-managed since independence were being sold to private investors. Most buyers saw commodity assets. Egide Gatera saw something else.
He acquired majority shares in two government-owned tea estates and factories. It was the beginning of what would become Rwanda Mountain Tea Group, today Rwanda’s largest privately owned tea producer.
Three years later, in 2009, a third factory became available. RMT acquired it. Then a fourth. The pattern of expansion had begun, and it continued steadily for the next fifteen years, the most recent acquisition in 2024 bringing the total to nine tea factories operating across Rwanda’s highlands.
What Twenty Years Built
The numbers tell part of the story.
| Milestone | 2006 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Tea factories | 2 | 9 |
| Garden marks | 2 | 8 |
| Employees | ~2,000 | 30,000+ |
| Export markets | Regional | 40+ countries |
| Organic certification | None | Rutsiro (ECOCERT / NOP) |
| Hydropower plants | 0 | 5 (combined 20.6 MW) |
But the numbers don’t fully capture what this growth meant on the ground. Rwanda Mountain Tea operates in some of Rwanda’s most remote highland regions, areas where tea farming is not just an economic activity but the backbone of entire communities. According to the Rwanda Development Board, the tea sector supports the livelihoods of over 60,000 farming families across the country. Rwanda Mountain Tea’s footprint spans a significant portion of that.
The Gardens That Define RMT
Across Rwanda’s northwest and southwest highlands, eight garden marks now bear the Rwanda Mountain Tea name, each with its own character, altitude, and grade profile.
- Gatare — Bold CTC grades in Rwanda’s Western Province
- Gisakura — On the edge of Nyungwe Forest, between 1,600 and 1,800m
- Kitabi — High-altitude classic, known for BP1 quality
- Rubaya — Consistent Pekoe grades, reliable supply
- Nyabihu — One of the highest-altitude gardens in the portfolio
- Nshili Kivu — Western Province, Lake Kivu watershed
- Mata — Quietly producing some of RMT’s most consistent CTC
- Rutsiro — Rwanda’s first organically certified tea garden, producing black and green orthodox grades
Each garden is more than a production asset. It is a community, a microclimate, and a flavour, which is why international buyers increasingly seek Rwanda Mountain Tea by garden mark rather than simply by grade.
Beyond Tea: The Broader RMT Group
Rwanda Mountain Tea has never been only about tea. From early in its history, the company diversified into renewable energy — today operating five hydropower plants along Rwanda’s rivers, with a combined capacity of 20.6 megawatts fed into the national grid. The company also has operations in concrete fabrication materials.
This diversification was not a distraction from the tea business. It was the foundation that allowed reinvestment into tea infrastructure, certification, and quality over two decades.
What the Next Twenty Years Require
Rwanda Mountain Tea enters its third decade at a pivotal moment for the global tea industry. Climate change is reshaping yield patterns across East Africa. AI search is changing how buyers discover suppliers. Sustainability requirements from the EU and UK are raising the bar for market access.
RMT’s response to all of this has been consistent with the approach of its first twenty years: invest early, invest in quality, and build for the long term.
The NAEB projects Rwanda’s tea export value to grow significantly through 2030. Rwanda Mountain Tea intends to be at the centre of that growth.
Twenty years is built by people, not by plans. By the farmers who wake before sunrise in the highlands of Gisakura and Nyabihu to pluck two leaves and a bud. By the factory workers who run the withering troughs and the rolling machines through the night. By the buyers who chose Rwanda before it was fashionable, and the partners who stayed through the difficult years.
This milestone belongs to all of them.
Learn more about Rwanda Mountain Tea → | Explore our 8 garden marks → | Download our commemorative guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Rwanda Mountain Tea founded?
Rwanda Mountain Tea was founded in 2006, when investor Egide Gatera acquired majority shares in two government-owned tea factories following the Rwandan government’s privatisation of its tea sector.
How many factories does Rwanda Mountain Tea operate?
As of 2026, Rwanda Mountain Tea operates 9 tea factories across Rwanda’s highlands, following its most recent acquisition in 2024.
How many people does Rwanda Mountain Tea employ?
Rwanda Mountain Tea employs over 30,000 people across its tea gardens, factories, and operations, making it one of Rwanda’s largest private employers.
Which garden marks does Rwanda Mountain Tea produce?
RMT produces tea from 8 garden marks: Gatare, Gisakura, Kitabi, Rubaya, Nyabihu, Nshili Kivu, Mata, and Rutsiro Organic. Each has a distinct flavour profile and grade range.
Does Rwanda Mountain Tea produce organic tea?
Yes. The Rutsiro garden holds organic certification under European Organic Standards (ECOCERT) and the US National Organic Programme (NOP).
Where does Rwanda Mountain Tea export its tea?
RMT exports to over 40 countries, including markets in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. Tea is sold at the Mombasa Tea Auction and through direct trade agreements.
