Kenya is eager to commence the sale of black tea in China amid growing demand for the product in the vast Chinese market. This intention was made clear recently by Kenya’s Ambassador-designate to Beijing, Muthoni Gichohi.
Despite the fact that China is itself one of the biggest tea growers in the world, and produces a wide variety of them, the increasing income of ordinary residents in the country’s urban areas, has seen many Chinese citizens develop an interest in sampling tea products from other places, and reports suggest Kenyan tea is amongst the favorite varieties in the East Asian country.
As a result of the increasing demand, the Chinese government in collaboration with its embassies abroad, including in the East African countries, has been establishing platforms aimed at promoting the tea and even enabling Chinese customers to source the tea directly from African businesses and farmers.
The recently appointed Kenyan envoy acknowledges that although China is the largest consumer and exporter of green tea, studies suggest that consumption of black tea is also on the rise.
Gichohi, who has been on a fact-finding mission in some of Kenya’s biggest tea factories, observed that black tea, although untraditional in China, is gaining popularity and finding a market.
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“I will engage private tea manufacturers to set up factories in Kenya, so as to produce tea for export that meets their standards,” she said.
But even as the country’s diplomat promises engagements, already efforts are being made to continue opening up the Chinese market.
In an attempt to expand their client base, some of Kenya’s tea factory managers are said to have already begun engagements with marketers in China through online forums where they showcase a wide variety of tea products on offer. Dubbed ‘Meet Africa’ the platform is aiding communication between the two sides. The aim, according to those involved, is to particularly get the Chinese themselves to promote Kenyan tea and Kenyan culture.
China and Kenya enjoy good cooperation in the trade and economic sectors. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between the two sides has been increasing steadily.
In addition to exporting tea and sale of the same products online, Kenyans also benefit from the various agribusiness opportunities offered by China to African countries. One of the biggest achievements so far is the deal that allows Kenyan companies to enter China and participate directly in international exhibitions.
Kenya also recently started exporting avocados and aquatic products to China and the envoy believes it is possible to get an even bigger market for tea, coffee, and other horticulture produce from Kenya.
The ambassador says China is a very important, strategic partner to Kenya noting that the two countries will continue collaborating in numerous other sectors such as Information Communication and Technology which now drives Kenya’s digital economy.
Source: KBC
