Purple Tea Farm Tour from Nairobi City – Specialty Tea Tasting

Purple tea has a story worth tasting. This day trip from Nairobi takes you to a family-run farm in Gatanga, where you can pick tea by hand, follow its traditional processing, and taste unusual Kenyan varieties. I like the hands-on picking session and the generous three-course lunch, both included in the price.

I also like the small group, limited to 12 people, which should make the farm visit more personal than a large coach outing. The main caution is the pickup service: the tour itself earned strong praise, but one experience included communication and pickup problems, so confirm the meeting details carefully before departure.

What makes this tea tour special

• You pick purple tea yourself: Carry the leaves you collect and follow them into the processing stage.
• The tasting goes well beyond black tea: Try purple, green, orthodox black, oolong, hibiscus, yellow tea, silver tips, and golden tips.
• A waterfall walk breaks up the food and tea: The nature trail ends at a waterfall, with a dip available for those who want one.
• Lunch is part of the experience: A three-course meal is included, not added as an extra cost.
• Your day begins and ends in Nairobi: Return transport is included from Uniafric House on Nairobi’s Moi Avenue area.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 12 people gives this farm visit a more relaxed feel.

Why purple tea makes this farm visit different

Kenya is famous for tea, but the usual picture is a cup of black tea. Purple tea gives you a reason to look closer. This tour is not just a tasting in a city café. You see the plant in the field, handle the leaves, and learn how specialty tea moves from fresh growth to a finished drink.

The farm visit begins with a welcome at the farmhouse by family members. That detail matters. You are not simply being shown around an anonymous production site. The day has a home-based, personal quality, and you get a chance to ask questions in a setting connected to the farm itself.

I like that the tour treats tea as both agriculture and craft. You learn how tea is grown, how it is selected, and how traditional orthodox processing works. The word orthodox here refers to the traditional method of handling and shaping tea leaves, rather than the faster industrial methods used for some mass-market teas.

The experience is best for you if a tea tasting alone feels too passive. You will be working with the leaves before you sit down to taste them. That simple connection makes the final cups easier to understand.

Leaving Nairobi at 8:00 am

The meeting point is Uniafric House in Nairobi, and the listed start time is 8:00 am. Transport to and from Nairobi is included, which is a major part of the value for a day outside the city. You do not need to arrange separate transport to the farm or find your own way back after the waterfall walk and lunch.

The full experience takes about nine hours, although the farm itinerary itself is listed as six hours. The difference likely reflects the Nairobi transfers, so plan for most of the day rather than treating this as a short morning outing.

The pickup point deserves attention. One past booking had an excellent farm experience but poor communication around pickup. That does not cancel out the strengths of the tour, but it gives you a useful practical lesson: confirm the exact meeting instructions and pickup contact before the morning of departure.

A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation is received at booking. The tour can accommodate service animals, is near public transportation, and is considered suitable for most people. Still, the nature walk and waterfall portion mean you should be comfortable walking outdoors.

Picking tea by hand in Gatanga

At the farm, your first real activity is a tea-picking session. You try your hand at picking purple tea, then carry the leaves you collected for processing.

This is the kind of small task that turns a farm tour into a real activity. You are not only hearing that tea is hand-picked. You are handling the leaves and getting a sense of the work behind each cup. The process also gives you a better appreciation for why specialty tea can cost more than an everyday blend.

The tour focuses on traditional methods, so expect an explanation of orthodox tea processing rather than a factory-scale production demonstration. The supplied details do not promise a full industrial factory tour, and it is better to set your expectations accordingly. You will gain insight into the farm’s traditional method and see how your picked leaves fit into that process.

The chance to carry your own leaves forward is especially useful for families, curious food visitors, and anyone who likes to understand a product from source to table. It gives the morning a clear thread: plant, pick, process, taste.

The nature trail and waterfall stop

After the tea work, you follow an experiential nature trail that ends at a waterfall. This adds welcome variety to a day that could otherwise feel focused only on farming and food.

The walk is not presented as a technical hike, and no distance or difficulty rating is provided. You should still wear practical shoes and be ready for an outdoor path. The tour requires good weather, and that makes sense here. Rain could affect both the walk and the comfort of spending time around the waterfall.

A dip is available for people who are willing to take it. It is an optional part of the stop, not a required activity. If you prefer to stay dry, the waterfall still provides a natural pause before lunch and tea.

I like this part because it connects the farm visit to the wider setting without turning the tour into a full hiking trip. You get fresh air and a change of pace, but the main focus remains tea.

A three-course lunch with a long tea tasting

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. A three-course meal is included, and one past visitor specifically praised it as a gourmet lunch. You are not left to buy food during a remote farm outing, and you can enjoy the meal as part of the day rather than rushing off to find a restaurant.

The tea tasting follows or accompanies the lunch experience. Included varieties are:

• Purple tea
• Green tea
• Black orthodox tea
• Oolong
• Hibiscus
• Yellow tea
• Silver tips
• Golden tips

That is a thoughtful range. You can compare different styles rather than drinking several versions of the same tea. Purple tea gives the tasting its unusual focus, while green, black, oolong, and yellow teas show how varied tea can be. Hibiscus adds a non-tea herbal option, and silver tips and golden tips bring attention to prized leaf selections.

No extra tasting fee is required. That matters when judging the $102 price, since the day includes transportation, lunch, and the tea session. The tasting is also more meaningful after you have seen the leaves growing and tried picking them.

Do not expect a formal wine-style tasting with technical scoring unless the guide chooses to present it that way. The information promises a specialty tea tasting, not a professional certification class. You are there to learn, compare, and enjoy the cups.

Buying Kenyan tea straight from the farm

Near the end of the visit, you can buy Kenyan tea leaves as they come from the tea factory mill. This gives you a chance to take home something directly connected to the day, rather than a generic souvenir bought in central Nairobi.

Personal costs are not included, so tea purchases are extra. That is fair, but bring a payment method you can use at the farm and make sure you understand the price before buying. The tour does not specify payment types or exact tea prices, so those details should be confirmed locally.

Signing the visitors book is another small closing ritual. It marks your time at the farm and gives the visit a sense of completion. It is not a major attraction, but these simple moments often make a day feel more personal.

Is $102 a fair price?

At $102 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day outside Nairobi. It is also more than a simple farm entrance fee. You are paying for a package that includes return transport, lunch, guided farm activities, tea preparation, and multiple tastings.

For me, the value depends on how much you want the complete day. If you only want to drink purple tea, you can probably find a cheaper tasting in Nairobi. If you want to pick leaves, walk to a waterfall, eat lunch at the farm, and try eight listed tea styles, the price makes more sense.

The small-group limit of 12 is important. You are not paying for an intimate private tour, but you are also not being placed in a large bus group. A smaller group should make the picking, questions, and tasting easier to manage.

The transport adds practical value. Nairobi traffic and unfamiliar roads can make independent day trips tiring, and the included transfers remove much of that planning. The key is making sure the pickup arrangement is clear, since communication was the one specific weakness raised about the experience.

The tour is booked, on average, 28 days ahead. That suggests you should not wait until the last minute if your Nairobi schedule is fixed, especially if you want a particular date.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this day to tea lovers, food-focused visitors, and anyone who prefers meeting producers instead of only visiting city attractions. It also suits people who enjoy a light outdoor activity alongside a cultural or culinary experience.

Families may like the hands-on picking and waterfall stop, though the provided information does not give a minimum age or describe the walk in detail. Ask about those points if you are traveling with young children.

This is a good fit for you if you want:

• A full-day outing from Nairobi
• Direct contact with a working tea farm
• A small group rather than a large coach
• Lunch and tastings included
• A nature walk without booking a separate hike
• A chance to buy Kenyan tea at the source

It may be less suitable if you want a fast city excursion, a luxury vehicle experience, or a highly technical tea course. It also may not suit you if you dislike outdoor walking or want a guaranteed schedule unaffected by weather.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Meet at Uniafric House for the 8:00 am departure and allow the full day. The return is to the same meeting point, so avoid booking another fixed activity too soon afterward.

Wear comfortable shoes for the nature trail. If you may want to enter the water at the waterfall, carry whatever personal items you need for that option, but the tour details do not state whether changing facilities are available.

Keep room in your bag for tea purchases. The farm offers quality Kenyan tea as it comes from the factory mill, and buying a packet can be a useful reminder of the visit.

The cancellation terms are forgiving if your plans change. You receive a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The experience also depends on a minimum number of participants and good weather. If the provider cancels for either reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The tour has a 4.6 rating from 12 reviews, with 92 percent recommending it. That is encouraging, though the review sample is small. The clearest pattern is simple: the farm activities, lunch, tasting, and waterfall are the strong points, while pickup communication deserves your attention.

Should you book the purple tea farm tour?

Book it if you want to understand Kenyan tea through your hands, your feet, and your taste buds. The strongest parts are the leaf-picking session, traditional processing lesson, generous lunch, broad tasting menu, and waterfall walk. Included transport makes the day easier to arrange from Nairobi.

I would hesitate only if you need a very short outing or dislike uncertain outdoor conditions. Before you go, confirm the pickup details, then enjoy the day at an unhurried pace. For a tea fan, this is a more memorable choice than simply ordering another cup in town.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Uniafric House, 25, Nairobi, Kenya.

What time does the experience begin?

The listed start time is 8:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The overall experience lasts approximately nine hours. The farm itinerary is listed as six hours, with the remaining time likely covering transport to and from Nairobi.

Is transportation from Nairobi included?

Yes. Transport to and from Nairobi is included, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What is included in the price?

The price includes transport, lunch, and coffee or tea. The specialty tea tasting is also included, with no separate tasting charge listed.

What kinds of tea can I taste?

The tasting includes purple tea, green tea, black orthodox tea, oolong, hibiscus, yellow tea, silver tips, and golden tips.

Can I pick tea during the visit?

Yes. You can try picking purple tea by hand and carry the leaves you pick for processing.

Is the tour suitable for a small group?

Yes. The maximum group size is 12 people.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.