MALAWI
While Kenya, Uganda, and northern Tanzania have seen production drop recently due to persistent dry weather, production in Malawi has been speeding up with the start of the rainy season. The season did not get off to a promising start but since the beginning of January, the weather is being kinder with continuing rains and warm sunshine and the country has produced some well-made teas that have fetched higher prices. About 80% of Malawi teas are harvested during the warm, wet months and the remaining 20% during the dryer period when the plants flush more slowly. The record figure for Malawi’s black tea production is 52 million kg per year.