Orthodox tea will soon be traded at the Mombasa Tea Auction, marking a significant expansion from its traditional focus on black CTC tea. This development follows the licensing of 34 factories dedicated to producing pure orthodox tea, indicating sufficient volumes for auction.

• The Chief Executive of Tea Board of Kenya (TBK), Willy Mutai, announced that the official launch for orthodox tea auctions is set for September 17, 2025.
• Producers were required to catalogue their teas by August 28.
• The East Africa Tea Traders Association (EATTA) has established a dedicated line for orthodox tea producers.
• Companies like Siomo Tea, Choimim, Nndarawetta, and Matunwa are among those producing pure orthodox tea.
• The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)'s small-scale subsector has also built 34 factories specifically for pure orthodox teas.