Introduction: The World Is Already Drinking Rwanda
Every week at the Mombasa Tea Auction the largest black tea exchange in the world one origin consistently commands the highest prices on the board. Not Sri Lanka. Not Kenya. Not India.
Rwanda.
According to data from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), Rwandan tea consistently achieves prices averaging 15 to 20 percent above other regional teas due to its exceptional quality and distinctive flavour profile. In 2025, Rwandan tea fetched the highest average price at $3.24 per kilo across the year a figure that tells the story of an industry that has quietly become one of the most respected origins in the global tea trade.
At the heart of that story is Rwanda Mountain Tea (RMT) Group the country’s most geographically diverse private tea producer, operating eight certified garden marks across Rwanda’s highlands and exporting to buyers in over 47 countries.
This article is for importers, blenders, wholesalers, and sourcing managers who want to understand exactly what makes RMT teas different and how to source them.
Rwanda’s Tea Industry in Numbers: A Sector Built for Export
Before looking at RMT specifically, it is worth understanding the foundation Rwanda has built.
Tea production has grown from 5,910 tonnes of made tea in 1980 to over 40,000 tonnes by June 2024, with the sector generating USD 114.8 million from the export of 38,467 tonnes in 2023/2024. Rwanda’s tea is exported in raw form at 97.3%, with 80% sold through auctions and 17.3% directly.
Tea contributes over 13 percent to Rwanda’s total agricultural export revenue, and the sector supports approximately 50,000 tea farmers organised into 23 cooperatives across the country.
Looking ahead, Rwanda’s Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5, 2024–2029) targets generating USD 175 million from exporting 58,600 tonnes of processed tea by 2029.
This is a government-backed, internationally supported industry scaling with purpose. For buyers, that means supply security, growing volume, and an origin whose quality trajectory is moving in one direction: upward.
To understand how RMT positions itself within that national ambition, read our article: Exporting Rwandan Tea: Standards and Markets.
Why Rwandan Tea Commands a Premium: The Altitude Advantage
The foundation of Rwanda’s tea quality is geography and it is not something any competitor can replicate.
Rwanda sits between 1,500 and 2,500 metres above sea level. At altitude, Camellia sinensis grows more slowly than at lower elevations. Slower growth produces denser leaf cell structures, higher concentrations of flavour compounds, more pronounced theaflavins, and brighter, more complex liquors.
The result: a cup that is vivid, full-bodied, and brisk qualities that make Rwandan CTC an ideal base for premium blends and a standout single-origin product.
RMT’s eight gardens are spread across some of Rwanda’s highest and most productive tea-growing zones, from the shores of Lake Kivu to the edge of Nyungwe National Park. Each produces teas with a distinctive character tied to its microclimate and soil giving wholesale buyers a range of profiles under one reliable supplier.
For a deeper look at how altitude and climate shape our teas, read: The Secret Behind Rwanda’s Award-Winning Teas: Altitude, Climate and Expertise.
RMT’s Eight Garden Marks: A Portfolio Built for Buyers
One of RMT Group’s strongest advantages as an export partner is the breadth of its portfolio. Rather than sourcing from a single factory, buyers can choose specific garden marks each with its own profile, grades, and certifications.
Gatare Tea Garden
Located in the Southern Province, Gatare produces premium CTC black tea with consistent brightness and strength. A reliable performer at the Mombasa Auction, with strong demand from Pakistani and Egyptian buyers.
Gisakura Tea Garden
Bordering Nyungwe National Park at 1,950 metres, Gisakura is one of Rwanda’s most distinctive estates. With 2.67 million kg of average annual production and Rainforest Alliance certification, it offers high-volume, sustainably sourced CTC for blenders and packers.
Kitabi Tea Garden
Kitabi’s PF1 grade achieved $3.64/kg at the Mombasa Auction, placing it among the top-performing marks in the region. Kitabi is particularly prized for its bright, lively character — a go-to for specialty blends.
Rubaya Tea Garden
Positioned in Rwanda’s North-Western highlands, Rubaya produces CTC teas with a distinctive body and depth. An ideal source for buyers looking for consistency in both flavour and volume.
Nyabihu Tea Garden
Nyabihu’s BP1 grade achieved $3.98/kg at a recent Mombasa session, making it one of the highest-priced broken pekoe marks in East Africa. Its high-altitude position in Rubavu District gives it an exceptional cup character.
Nshili-Kivu Tea Garden
Adjacent to Lake Kivu, Nshili-Kivu benefits from the unique humidity and thermal regulation of the lake basin. It is one of RMT’s most geographically distinctive origins for buyers seeking an exotic single-estate profile.
Mata Tea Garden
The Mata garden produces high-quality CTC teas from the Southern Province, with a production model that integrates smallholder outgrowers — ensuring community impact alongside commercial output.
Rutsiro Organic Tea Garden
For buyers sourcing organic-certified tea, Rutsiro is RMT’s flagship answer. Certified organic and producing both black and green Orthodox grades, Rutsiro opens the door to premium retail, foodservice, and specialty tea markets in Europe, North America, and the Gulf.
Explore all eight garden marks on the RMT garden marks page.
What Grades Does RMT Offer?
RMT Group produces across the full range of Rwandan tea grades, giving buyers flexibility for any market segment.
CTC Black Tea Grades (available across all eight gardens):
- BP1 (Broken Pekoe 1) — full-bodied, ideal for tea bags and strong blends
- PF1 (Pekoe Fannings 1) — bright and brisk, premium tea bag grade
- PD (Pekoe Dust) — fine particle, used in economy bags and blending
- D1 (Dust 1) — quickest brew, strong colour, widely used in commodity markets
Orthodox Grades (Rutsiro garden):
- Black Orthodox: OP, OP1, BOP1, FBOP, FBOPF, Pekoe
- Green Orthodox: OP, OP1, Pekoe, BOP1, FBOP, FBOPF
This combination of CTC and Orthodox production makes RMT one of the few Rwandan suppliers capable of serving both volume commodity buyers and specialty loose-leaf markets simultaneously.
To understand what these grades mean for your sourcing decision, read: Understanding Tea Grading Systems: What BP, PF, and FBOP Mean for Your Cup.
Certifications That Open Doors
For international buyers, certifications are not optional they are the price of entry into regulated markets in the EU, UK, US, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. RMT’s gardens hold a comprehensive suite of internationally recognised standards.
Across the RMT portfolio, certifications include:
- ISO: international quality management systems standard
- Rainforest Alliance: sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection, and worker welfare
- HACCP: hazard analysis and critical control points for food safety
- Eco certification: environmental stewardship across the estate
- Organic certification (Rutsiro): certified organic production for premium retail markets
These certifications are backed by independent audits and are fully documented for buyer due diligence. View the complete list of RMT’s awards and certifications.
The Mombasa Auction: Rwanda’s Pricing Benchmark
The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) runs the Mombasa Tea Auction, where over 430 million kilograms of tea are traded annually. It is the reference point for East African tea pricing and Rwanda dominates the premium tier.
At Auction No. 14 in April 2026, RMT’s gardens posted strong prices: Kitabi BP1 at $4.12/kg, Gatare BP1 at $4.12/kg, and Nyabihu BP1 at $3.40/kg all well above the regional average.
The overall average price per kilo across the auction in 2025 stood at $2.05, while Rwandan tea averaged $3.24 per kilo a premium of roughly 58 percent above the market average.
For buyers considering direct procurement from RMT outside the auction a growing trend in the Rwandan industry our sales team is able to discuss weekly competitive pricing, forward contracts, and sample arrangements. See current weekly offers by garden on the bulk tea page.
Key Export Markets: Where RMT Tea Reaches
Rwanda’s tea was exported to 47 countries in 2023/2024, with Pakistan leading imports at over 9,194 tonnes nearly 24 percent of total volume for $27.5 million.
Beyond Pakistan, Rwandan tea reaches:
- Europe UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where premium and sustainably certified teas command strong retail positioning and growing interest in single-origin origins.
- Middle East UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, where tea culture and rising disposable incomes create strong demand for premium black CTC. Rwanda’s bright, full-bodied character competes strongly against Indian and Sri Lankan origins.
- North America US and Canada, where the specialty tea segment is growing fastest. Orthodox, organic, and green tea grades from Rutsiro are especially well-positioned for direct-to-consumer and foodservice channels.
- Africa Following RMT’s expansion into West Africa, anchored by the Dakar tasting event in early 2026, the continental market is opening. The AfCFTA framework now enables consolidated tea shipments across 54 African markets with significantly reduced tariffs an opportunity RMT is actively developing.
Rwanda’s National Tea Strategy: A Sector Scaling With Policy Backing
For buyers thinking long-term about supply security, Rwanda’s policy environment matters.
The Government of Rwanda, through NAEB and in collaboration with FAO, has launched the first dedicated national tea strategy for Rwanda anchored in PSTA 5 (2024–2029). It targets greater visibility, stronger branding, and expanded markets, while addressing challenges including low yields, limited value addition, climate-change pressure, and infrastructure gaps.
NAEB CEO Claude Bizimana described the ambition: “For the first time, Rwanda is developing a dedicated tea strategy, thinking big and aligning the sector with the nation’s aspirations of achieving middle-income status by 2035 and high-income by 2050.”
This national strategy funded with technical support from FAO’s MAFAP programme and backed by IFAD financing is designed to make Rwanda an even more reliable and competitive source for international buyers over the next five years.
Sustainability and Traceability: What RMT Buyers Receive
Sustainability has moved from a differentiator to a baseline expectation for buyers in regulated markets — particularly in the EU, following the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and upcoming supply chain due diligence requirements.
RMT’s gardens offer:
- Full traceability from garden to export — each garden mark is a discrete, auditable supply chain
- Rainforest Alliance certification ensuring no deforestation in supply zones
- Certified organic supply via Rutsiro for markets requiring organic proof
- Social impact reporting — RMT employs over 10,000 people across its eight gardens, the majority of whom are women working as tea pickers, factory staff, and field extension workers
For more on how RMT’s social model works, read: Women in Tea: How RMT Empowers Female Workers Across Rwanda. The Rwanda Development Board and NAEB further provide export documentation support, country-of-origin certification, and government-backed quality assurance frameworks that exporters like RMT operate within.
How to Source From Rwanda Mountain Tea Group
RMT’s commercial team is set up to support buyers at every stage of the procurement process from first enquiry to regular shipment.
- Step 1: Request a sample Contact the team through the bulk tea enquiry form, specify your preferred garden mark, grade, and quantity, and we will arrange sample delivery.
- Step 2: Review the garden mark profile Each of RMT’s eight gardens has a downloadable mark profile document with full specifications, grade breakdowns, certification copies, and cup character notes.
- Step 3: Place your order Once your sample evaluation is complete, our team handles logistics, documentation, and export clearance. We work with buyers globally and are experienced in shipping to Pakistan, the UK, the UAE, Egypt, Germany, and across the African continent.
- Step 4: Stay connected to live pricing Weekly auction prices by garden are updated on the commercial page. You can also register to receive direct weekly price notifications.
For any enquiry, reach the RMT sales team at: info@rwandamountaintea.com or +250 788 305 845.
Conclusion: The Premium Origin Your Buyers Are Looking For
Rwanda Mountain Tea is not a volume play it is a quality story. A story of eight distinct gardens, each shaped by altitude, biodiversity, and the hands of thousands of skilled farmers. A story of an origin that commands the highest prices in East Africa, week after week, because the quality is simply not matched anywhere else in the region. For importers, blenders, and wholesalers looking to add a premium, certified, traceable East African origin to their portfolio, RMT is ready. Browse our full garden marks portfolio, explore weekly bulk prices, or contact our sales team to start the conversation.
The world is already drinking Rwanda. Make sure your buyers are too.
