Greetings from Mombasa!

Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya and home to the Mombasa Tea Auction which, each week, sells tea from East Africa to across the globe. Being an island city Mombasa is home to Kilindini Harbour, the principle port of Kenya and so not just essential for the export of tea to our Harrogate HQ but for all of Kenya's imports and exports.

Laid back given its status as second city, Mombasa has a complex (and at times bloody) history, having been under Portuguese, Omani and British rule, resulting in a vibrantly diverse city both architecturally and culturally.

Teas from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Burundi come here, as part of the weekly tea auction which takes place over two days. I've been working with our Kenya Auction Agent here to gain first-hand experience of the buzz of the auction. Each week there are between 90,000 and 120,000 packages of tea offered here. Samples of each single tea printed in the auction catalogue are sent to the buyers who participate in the auction for tasting and grading prior to the auction day.

Tea in transit

Each buyer grades and values the tea they want, so they're ready to bid for it at the auction - the exciting bit! At my first auction I sat and observed listening to the lingo. It is really fast paced and you have to think very quickly so you don't lose which lot number you are bidding for! The atmosphere is competitive but friendly, with just the right amount of banter and fun, which helps maintain the lively flow of the sale.

Dennis and Michael tasting auction samples

By my second auction I was desperate to bid and poised eagerly awaiting my lots of tea to be announced. When the time finally came and the broker read out my first lot I realised I was in competition with another buyer. The race was on. You have to bid up in two cents or more and after a nerve-wracking few seconds I had secured my tea. It was only when I went to write my purchases down that I realised my hands were shaking! Well worth the nerves however, as all the lovely tea I tussled for is destined for our delicious Yorkshire Gold.

My time in Mombasa is coming to an end and my next stop is the area around Mount Kenya, which grows high quality tea produced by smallholder farmers. It will be a lot cooler than the hot and humid coastal areas and I look forward to telling you more from there.

Bye for now!

Suzy

PS - Thought you might also like to see some pictures I took on Sunday - they say less about tea but more about Kenya.