Kenyan OR Tea / Orthodox BMF: A Reliable Grade for the Iraqi Tea Market
- Christine Simon
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
In the tea industry, much of the focus is on large, whole-leaf grades. However, for tea companies in Iraq, the tea must perform well in the glass.
The Iraqi market requires a specific type of tea: it must have a deep red colour, a strong taste that stays even when sugar is added, and it must brew very quickly.
Traditional brewing methods in the region rely on a "heavy" infusion that can be diluted or sweetened without losing its character. This requires a grade that offers both volume and extraction.
To meet this demand profitably, the Kenyan OR Tea / Orthodox BMF grade is an important tool for tea blenders and packers. Even though it sits lower in the hierarchy due to its higher stalk content, it provides the essential liquor density that allows for a strong, local cup while keeping production costs efficient.
Why Kenyan OR Tea / Orthodox BMF is Used in Iraq
In the tea factory, the Kenyan OR Tea / Orthodox BMF as it's known in Sri Lanka is a large-leaf grade separated during the sifting process. While it contains more brown stalks than primary grades, this physical profile provides several direct benefits for your business:
Liquor Strength: Because the leaf is more open and includes stalks, it releases its colour and tannins quickly. This is ideal for the traditional Iraqi brewing style.
Large Leaf Profile: Despite being an off-grade, it maintains a large leaf size, providing the bulk and volume needed for various blends.
Cost Management: This is the most affordable orthodox grade available. It allows you to maintain a high-volume product at a price point that remains competitive in the local market.
Supporting Your Business in Iraq
We understand the difficulties of importing tea into Iraq. The recent high tariff fees and costs at the border put a lot of pressure on your profit margins.
Because we work directly at the source in Kenya, we can manage production costs effectively.
Our goal is to support your business by offering the best possible market rates for our Kenyan OR / Orthodox BMF. We want to help you stay profitable even when your local import taxes are high.
Quality and Loading Standards
To ensure your shipment arrives at Umm Qasr without issues, we provide full support for the following:
Specification | Detail |
Free samples of Kenyan OR Tea | We provide free samples before you commit to a full order. You can approve the leaf, taste the tea and test the tea in your local water to ensure it meets your standards before we load the container |
Shelf Life | 24 - 36 Months (2 - 3 Years) |
Documentation | Full set for Iraqi Customs (Certificate Of Origin, Bill of Lading, Health Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate, Packing List, Commercial Invoice) |
Quality Control | Pre-shipment Sample (PSS) provided for every order Freshness: Our tea is sourced from the most recent auction weeks, ensuring a long shelf life of up to 3 years in Iraqi storage conditions |
Packing | 30 kg Sacks (UV-protected and moisture-resistant) |
Weekly Prices from the Mombasa Tea Auction
Our prices are based on the weekly Mombasa Tea Auction. This ensures that you are buying at the current market rate.
We encourage you to check in with us every week for the latest price updates. This will help you decide the best time to buy based on market changes.
High Demand: Kenyan OPA Bold
While the OR / Orthodox BMF is the most affordable grade for providing volume and strength, there is also high demand in the Iraqi market for a cleaner leaf profile to serve different market segments.
Our Kenyan OPA Bold is sought after because it offers a significant visual upgrade. Unlike the OR grade, which contains a high percentage of stalks, the OPA Bold is specifically sorted to be "cleaner" meaning it has significantly fewer stalks and a more consistent, dark appearance. This meets the specific standards that Iraqi consumers look for when they want a leafy tea that looks as good in the bag as it tastes in the glass.
OPA Bold Loading Specifications:
Packing: 26 kg Sacks
Loadability: 530 Sacks per 40' HC Container (~13.78 MT)
Many of our partners combine OPA Bold and Kenyan OR / Orthodox BMF in their procurement.
This allows them to blend the two together: using the OR for its cost-effective strength and the OPA Bold to improve the overall appearance and "leafiness" of the final product.
Please let us know if you require current pricing for OPA Bold along with your OR inquiry.
Contact our team today for this week’s price list and for more information on shipping Kenyan Tea from Mombasa Port to Umm Qasr Port.
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