Kenya’s purple tea has made a striking debut in France, where consumers, tea experts, and industry stakeholders have ranked it among premium beverages due to its rare antioxidant composition and limited supply. The entry into the Paris market marks a significant milestone for Kenya’s specialty tea industry, positioning the crop as a luxury product on the global stage.
The variety, cultivated largely in Murang’a County, was spotlighted after Equity Group, Gatanga Industries, and French tea house Palais des Thés signed a marketing deal during the Africa Forward Summit. The partnership was designed to expose Kenyan purple tea to premium international markets, elevating its profile beyond traditional exports.
The tea gained further prominence when Palais des Thés selected it for presentation at the G7 summit in Évian, France, where an Élysée Palace chef crafted a dark creamed chocolate blend using Kenya’s Grand Cru purple tea. The innovative pairing demonstrated the versatility of the product and underscored its potential to redefine perceptions of Kenyan tea beyond the everyday cup familiar to local communities.
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Equity Group Chief Executive Officer James Mwangi said the recognition reflects how Kenya can reposition its tea in the global market.
“We have witnessed how to transform our tea into a luxurious product for its visibility in the global market,” he noted, adding that the achievement celebrates Kenyan farmers while building stronger relationships with international consumers.
The Paris debut signals a new chapter for Kenya’s tea sector, which has long been dominated by black tea exports, offering farmers higher returns and diversifying Kenya’s agricultural exports.
By Ochola Victor
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