Malawi holds the distinction of being Africa's first country to commercialize tea cultivation, a journey that began in the late 19th century.
In 1878, Scottish missionaries first experimented with tea planting in the country's southern highlands, drawn to the region's mild temperatures and abundant rainfall. Their efforts bore fruit in 1891, when the first commercial tea plantation was established, marking the birth of Malawi's tea industry. For much of the 20th century, the industry focused solely on black tea production, catering to the demands of British colonial markets.
It was not until the early 2000s that Malawi began to shift its focus to green tea, recognizing the growing global demand for healthy, high-quality green tea products.
Today, Malawi's green tea sector thrives, with plantations in the Mulanje and Thyolo districts producing premium green tea known for its bright flavor and floral aroma. The country has also embraced organic farming practices, making its green tea a popular choice in European and North American specialty markets.
