{"id":2000127768,"date":"2026-10-01T19:06:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T17:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000127768"},"modified":"2026-10-01T19:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T17:12:23","slug":"rwandas-sorwathe-wins-top-award-at-north-american-tea-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwandas-sorwathe-wins-top-award-at-north-american-tea-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda\u2019s Sorwathe wins top award at North American tea competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sorwathe, part of Luxmi Tea Estates, received the award for its Black Orthodox OP1 produced at Rukeri Estate in Kinihira Sector, Rulindo District. The company also received the competition\u2019s Sustainability Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recognition, announced on September 25, adds to a growing list of international awards for Rwandan tea producers. Days earlier, Gisovu Tea Company, another member of the Silverback Tea group, was named Best CTC Tea and Overall Winner at the 7th African Tea Convention and Exhibition in Nairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"874\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-01-185759new.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000127772\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sorwathe, part of Luxmi Tea Estates, received the award for its Black Orthodox OP1 produced at Rukeri Estate in Kinihira Sector<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two awards come as Rwanda\u2019s tea producers continue to gain recognition in international competitions, with Rukeri orthodox tea also named Best OP Tea in Africa at the Africa Coffee &amp; Tea Expo in Kigali earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sorwathe Chairman Emery Rubagenga said the awards recognise the work of farmers and factory teams behind the company\u2019s tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese awards recognise the care that goes into Sorwath\u00e9\u2019s tea, from the farmers who grow it to the teams who bring it to market. Winning for both quality and sustainability is especially meaningful to us: the two go hand in hand,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"868\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-01-190227.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000127773\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Founded in 1975, Sorwathe is Rwanda\u2019s oldest private tea factory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2025, Sorwathe\u2019s Black Orthodox OP1 was named Overall Winner and received a Gold Medal across tea-producing countries at the same competition, while its Green OP won a Silver Medal. Rukeri Estate teas also took first and second place for Rwanda in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NAEB CEO Claude Bizimana said the recognition reflects progress across Rwanda\u2019s tea industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs a regulator, we see this achievement not only as a recognition of Sorwathe Ltd, but as an important milestone for the transformation of Rwanda\u2019s tea industry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sorwathe works with more than 9,000 smallholder farmers organised through ASSOPTHE and Hillside Organic Tea Cooperative, providing training, supervision and access to fertiliser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-01-185930.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000127770\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The company also received the competition\u2019s Sustainability Award.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silverback Tea CEO Nzeki Samuel Munyao said the award also highlights the contribution of farmers supplying the factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis recognition belongs to smallholder farmers of ASSOPTHE and HOTCOOP who supply the bulk of our leaf, our pluckers, our factory team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Founded in 1975, Sorwathe is Rwanda\u2019s oldest private tea factory. It produces about 4.5 million kilogrammes of made tea annually, with around 96 per cent exported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company was acquired by India\u2019s Luxmi Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd. in 2024 and operates within the Silverback Tea group alongside Gisovu, Pfunda and Rugabano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tea is among Rwanda\u2019s leading agricultural exports, generating over $553 million in export revenue between 2020 and 2026 on cumulative shipments exceeding 224,000 metric tons, according to figures from NAEB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NAEB projects annual earnings to reach $175 million by 2029 through targeted smallholder expansion and field infilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"873\" height=\"577\" data-id=\"2000127771\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-01-185839new.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000127771\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sorwathe Chairman Emery Rubagenga said the awards recognise the work of farmers and factory teams behind the company\u2019s tea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2000127769\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/10\/download-12.jpg\" alt=\"Rwanda\u2019s Sorwathe wins top award at North American tea competition\" class=\"wp-image-2000127769\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The two awards come as Rwanda\u2019s tea producers continue to gain recognition in international competitions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rwanda\u2019s Sorwathe Ltd has won First Place for Rwanda at the 2026 Gold Medal Tea Competition held during the Annual North American Tea Conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000127769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000127768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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