Kenyan Tea Growers Going Purple Seeking More Lucrative Returns
- Food & Agriculture Organisation sees black-tea prices falling
- Purple, orthodox tea earn 10 times more than black tea
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Kenyan tea growers are diversifying into higher-priced varieties as tastes change and prices of the black variety of the beverage the East African producer is known for becoming volatile.
From the rich volcanic soils on the slopes of Mount Kenya to the cool highlands of the Rift Valley, growers are either planting a new variant with purplish leaves or converting production from the common bush to more lucrative types; white, green and orthodox.