Dilmah Tea, the world’s first producer-owned tea brand, marked its 40th anniversary with a transformative tour across Australia and New Zealand in June and July 2025 as part of a series of events. More than a celebration, the tour reaffirmed Dilmah’s commitment to ‘Making the World a Better Tea’ — through taste, goodness and kindness.
Led by Chairman and second-generation tea grower Dilhan C. Fernando, alongside his son Amrit Fernando, the tour honoured the legacy of founder Merrill J. Fernando while spotlighting the future of tea — one rooted in craftsmanship, innovation and purpose.
“My father built our family tea business around a heart of kindness, and a foundation of Quality and Integrity,” explained Dilhan. “We are small relative to the global corporations in the tea category – a family business – but our strength is in our commitment to Taste, Goodness and Purpose. Lacking the large budgets of other brands in the tea category, it has always been our customers who embraced our passion and made Dilmah the brand that it is. Thank you Australia, for giving my father a chance, and thank you to every customer and friend around the world for choosing Dilmah.”
Over the course of the tour, we connected with thousands of tea lovers, chefs, students, and food service professionals at sold-out masterclasses, industry forums, and consumer events, including the Good Food & Wine Show and Fine Food Australia. From tea-inspired cocktails and gourmet food pairings to health-focused sessions on the natural goodness of tea, the events reflected a clear insight: tea is evolving, and conscious consumers are embracing it.
Highlights from the tour:
- Launch of the Ruby 40th Anniversary Tea: A special edition rare green tea commemorating Dilmah’s 40-year journey, available exclusively via the brand’s growing direct-to-consumer platform in Australia.
- Sold-Out Masterclasses & Consumer Demand: Masterclasses across both countries showcased the rising interest in premium tea, mixology, and ethical sourcing.
- Watte Single Garden Teas in Focus: Featuring the reimagined luxury loose-leaf collection, guests experienced the nuances of terroir and artisanal tea making.
- Tea-Inspired Innovation: From Elixir-based cocktails and mocktails to tea ice creams and curated dining with chef Peter Kuruvita, the events redefined how tea can be experienced.
- An iconic celebration at the waterfront in Sydney: An evening of appreciation with partners and long-time supporters, honouring the values and milestones of the brand.
Throughout the tour, Dilhan reinforced the belief that tea is more than just a beverage — it’s a medium for making an impact. Our founder pledged to commit a minimum of 15% of pre-tax profits to humanitarian and environmental initiatives through the MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation, and this remains central to our mission.
As the tea industry continues to commoditise with lesser quality and prices, our experience in Australia and New Zealand reveals a contrasting trend – consumers are actively seeking quality, authenticity, and ethical choices. Our team at Dilmah is ready to make a stand with you — a promise to continue making a stand for Quality, Integrity and Kindness.
To learn more about the Australia and New Zealand tours, click here.
