Purple tea isn’t something you see every day, and this tour makes it practical. I love the hands-on purple tea picking and the three-course lunch built into the day, so you’re not paying extra for tastings. The one snag to plan for is pickup/communication—so I’d confirm details the moment you book and keep your phone ready.

You’ll spend a full morning and afternoon away from Nairobi, starting with a welcome on the farm and then moving through tea growing basics, traditional orthodox processing, and a nature walk that ends at a waterfall. Along the way, you get a guided specialty tasting across purple, green, oolong, hibiscus, and more—and you can buy leaves directly from the mill at the end.

Key Points You’ll Care About

• Hand-pick purple tea leaves and carry what you picked for processing
• Traditional orthodox processing explained the same way it’s done on the farm
• Three-course lunch included, not a quick snack
• Small group capped at 12 people, which makes questions easier
• Tea tasting covers many styles, including yellow tea and golden tips
• Return transport from Nairobi means you don’t have to figure out logistics

A Nairobi Tea Farm Day That Feels Personal

This is the kind of Kenya experience that turns a drink into a story you can repeat. Instead of only hearing that tea is grown and processed, you get to do real steps: pick leaves, see how processing works, and taste multiple specialty styles back-to-back.

The small-group size matters more than it sounds. When you’re capped at 12 people, your guide can keep the pace comfortable, answer questions, and slow down where you actually want more detail. If you like learning through doing, this format fits well.

Getting There: 8:00am Pickup at Uniafric House

The tour starts at 8:00am at Uniafric House, 25, Nairobi and ends back at the same meeting point. That return-to-start plan is a big quality-of-life boost when you’re visiting a new city and you want to avoid last-minute transport stress.

Plan for a long day clock-wise—this runs about 9 hours—but it doesn’t feel stretched out in a way that leaves you bored. You’ll be busy: a farm welcome, hands-on picking, processing demonstrations, a nature trail, lunch, tea tasting, and then time to purchase leaves if you want.

A quick practical note: the tour requires good weather. If conditions aren’t right, the operator can switch the date or refund you, so it’s worth building flexibility into your Nairobi schedule.

Gatanga Farm Welcome and Tea-Growing Basics

You’re welcomed at the farm house by family members, and that early stop sets the tone. You’re not just walking around a garden; you’re being introduced to how tea fits into day-to-day farm life.

You’ll get a brief on tea growing in Kenya before you move into picking. That short context makes everything that follows easier to understand. When you know what kind of tea plant you’re seeing and why timing and leaf selection matter, picking becomes more than a photo op.

One thing I appreciate here is that the tour doesn’t pretend tea is one uniform thing. Even before the tasting, you’ll see how specialty styles come from processing choices and careful handling after the leaves are harvested.

Purple Tea Picking: The Most Memorable Hands-On Moment

This is the headline activity: a tea picking session where you can try purple tea picking. Yes, you’ll be out there handling leaves yourself, and you’ll carry the tea you picked for processing.

Why that matters: you start to notice how workers select leaves. Specialty tea quality often depends on leaf choice and the care of the harvest. Picking your own leaves gives you a feel for why farms train staff to be selective instead of just plucking anything green.

If you like active travel, this part delivers. If you’d rather observe than participate, you can still follow along, but you may want to wear clothing you don’t mind getting a little dusty—this is a working farm environment.

Traditional Orthodox Processing: See How Style Happens

After picking, the tour moves into learning the traditional way of processing specialty tea, with a focus on the orthodox tea processing procedure.

This is where the day shifts from “fun farm visit” to “real tea education.” Orthodox processing typically involves steps that shape the leaf before it’s dried and packed. Even if you don’t memorize every stage, you’ll leave with a clear idea that different tea styles aren’t just random. They’re the result of deliberate post-harvest work.

You’ll also see the connection between your picked leaves and what happens next. That link—picking something and then watching it go through the process—turns the tasting into something you can interpret instead of just sample.

Nature Trail to the Waterfall (and Time for a Breather)

Next up is an experiential nature walk. It culminates at a waterfall, which gives you a real change of scenery after the farm tasks.

The good part of this section is pacing. You’re not trapped in a classroom. You get movement, fresh air, and a chance to reset between the more hands-on learning and the sit-down meal.

The review-style feedback you’ll often hear about this day mentions people who are a bit bold and use the waterfall area to cool off if conditions allow. The itinerary itself doesn’t promise anything risky, so I’d treat it as optional—your priority is staying comfortable and safe on the trail.

Three-Course Lunch and Specialty Tea Tasting

Lunch is included, and it’s not a quick add-on. You get a three-course meal, followed by specialty tea tasting sessions.

Here’s the tasting range you should plan for:

• Purple tea
• Green tea
• Black Orthodox
• Oolong
• Hibiscus
• Yellow tea
• Silver Tips
• Golden tips

That mix is smart for first-time tea fans. Purple and green help you understand a lighter, fresher side. Oolong and black orthodox give you a stronger profile. Hibiscus is a different style entirely (a floral infusion vibe), so it helps you understand that tea experiences can vary a lot depending on what you’re drinking.

Then yellow tea, silver tips, and golden tips push you into specialty territory where small differences can matter. Even if you’re not a tea expert, this kind of side-by-side tasting builds your palate fast—because you’re switching styles in the same environment, with the same guidance, in one day.

Buying Tea Leaves at the Mill: Shop With Confidence

At the end, you get time for buying tea leaves. You’re essentially buying from the source as leaves roll from the tea factory mill.

This is where the tour can be extra valuable: you’re not guessing quality from packaging. You’ve already seen the leaf harvesting and processing steps, and you’ve tasted multiple styles. That gives you a real reference point for what you liked.

You’ll also sign a visitors book to mark your tea farm visit. It’s a small ritual, but I like these little touches. They make the experience feel anchored to place, not just a checklist.

If you want to buy tea, consider bringing cash or double-checking payment methods with the operator beforehand. The tour data only says buying is available, so you should confirm how purchases work at the mill.

Price and Value: What $102 Covers (and What It Means)

At $102 per person, this tour isn’t the cheapest Nairobi day trip. The value comes from the combination of things that are often sold separately:

• Return transport from Nairobi
• A full farm day with picking and processing learning
• Three-course lunch
• Guided specialty tea tastings across many styles

If you were to piece this together yourself—transport, a guide, a meal, and tasting—it usually adds up fast. Here, those pieces are bundled, and the small group cap at 12 helps keep the experience from feeling rushed.

One reason I think it’s worth it for tea lovers: you’re paying for access to the process, not just the product. Tea tastings are common. Picking leaves and seeing how orthodox processing works on-site is the part that turns this into something you remember.

Who Should Book This Tea Farm Tour

This fits well if you:

• love tea and want to understand how specialty styles are actually made
• like hands-on learning more than museum-style explanation
• want a structured day with lunch and guided tasting built in
• prefer small groups and easier question time

You might skip it if you:

• dislike outdoor walking segments that end at a waterfall
• want a purely sightseeing day with minimal activity
• are very sensitive to weather-based changes (since the tour requires good weather)

Provider and Style: African Authentic Safaris Ltd

The experience is run by African Authentic Safaris Ltd. The overall format feels like a small, guided cultural-farm day rather than a large bus tour. That’s usually a plus for learning and comfort, especially when the tour is designed around tasting and questions.

Should You Book This Tour?

I’d book it if you want a Nairobi-area experience that teaches you something real—how tea is picked, processed, and tasted in specialty styles. The purple tea picking, the orthodox processing learning, and the three-course lunch with tastings are strong reasons to go, especially if you care about quality and not just souvenirs.

I’d also book with one mindset: confirm pickup details early and keep your schedule flexible. When communication is smooth, this becomes a very satisfying day. When communication is messy, it can turn the first hour stressful, even if the farm itself is excellent.

If you’re planning a Kenya food-and-drink focused itinerary, this tour gives you a clear, delicious thread to follow.

FAQ

What time does the Purple Tea Farm Tour start in Nairobi?

It starts at 8:00am at Uniafric House, 25, Nairobi.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the agreed pickup point in Nairobi City, which is the meeting point.

How long is the tour?

The duration is listed as approximately 9 hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You’ll enjoy a three-course lunch, and it’s included in the price.

Do I have to pay extra for tea tastings?

No. Tea tastings are included, with access to multiple specialty teas such as purple, green, oolong, hibiscus, and more.

Which specialty teas will I taste?

You can expect to taste purple tea, green tea, black orthodox, oolong, hibiscus, yellow tea, silver tips, and golden tips.

How many people are in the group?

The experience is capped at a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is transport from Nairobi included?

Yes. The tour includes transport to and from Nairobi (return transfers).

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, you won’t receive a refund.

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