Dilhan C. Fernando

@juliechungfso Good Ceylon Tea is guaranteed to keep you warm and well, Julie. Greetings from Sri Lanka where it is 32 centigrade and overflowing with good tea and Cinnamon.

Minus 10 degrees Celsius in Washington. A perfect morning for Dilmah Ceylon tea & dreaming of warmth

It's a sombre Christmas in Sri Lanka this year, yet a powerful one, as we all reflect on the true meaning of this special season. In stewarding our father's legacy of kindness, we are richly blessed as a family and this is the truth we want to share this Christmas; life - and business - without purpose is meaningless. The irony of our universal quest for Joy is the truth of our father's philosophy that, in giving we receive; “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”   We wish you a blessed Christmas and pray that the New Year shall be fulfilling. May you give Love, Kindness and embed Purpose at the heart of your mission, and justly receive rewards of Joy, Peace and Contentment.

This is the kind of collaboration I love .. we welcomed 30 micro entrepreneurs from our MJF Foundation Small Entrepreneur Programme for a Peoples’ Market at t-Lounge by Dilmah at Horton Place, Colombo. Passionate, small businesses and women entrepreneurs making traditional food, heritage craft, Christmas gifts, tableware, clothing, plants and homeware. All creative, passionate and deserving of support, their pride in their produce so evident. What a privilege to support the dreams of these amazing people. This is one of the reasons my father fought to start Dilmah, and make the world a better tea.

Please pray for Sri Lanka and India. Cyclone Ditwah is leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it heads northward toward India. The loss of life and property in Sri Lanka is already incalculable with landslides, floods and other damage imposing catastrophic loss of loss and making emergency assistance treacherous. We join India in praying for the safety of people.

It’s a great day to be a Teamaker .. sharing the story of real tea in Tokyo. Food culture in Japan honours artisanship, tradition, sophistication and authenticity in taste and natural goodness. Working with Chef Hiroki Hidaka again together with amazing husband & wife team at Bar Landscape, Riedel Japan and Maison Cacao is truly a privilege.

The Global Dubai Tea Forum was a tremendous opportunity to discuss how our great tea industry could overcome the irony of nature’s healing herb suffering gross commoditization for the sake of discounts. It was a privilege to moderate a panel comprising Rudra Chatterjee, Tanvi Binani and Chris de Lavigne. Special appreciation to Dan Bolton, who powered the event for DMCC so well.

The Teamaker’s Story in Warsaw yesterday was a milestone as the journey that began 35 years ago was celebrated and the future charted. With the culinary support of Chef Pawel Kaluski, the scientific knowledge of Dr. Joan Wojsiat and indulgent desserts from Natalia Sitarska we shared a story of Taste, Goodness and ethical Purpose with the the assurance of Kindness, adventurous and memorable flavour experiences.

It’s a joy to return to Warsaw for ‘The Teamaker’s Story’ and exploration of the future of tea. For 30 years I visited with my father, now with my son and whilst here we rekindle a relationship of 3 generations with the Witomski family. All in the name of taste, natural goodness and ethical purpose, framed in the integrity of family business. #teainspired

Exploring the Herb Garden at Parc Broekhuizen with regenerative gardener Kyra de Vreeze this Autumn morning was an adventure in natural goodness. We foraged for aromas and flavours that would naturally complement our teas, harvesting and harmonizing lavender, tarragon, rosemary and more with our teas. Its Nature that makes every cup of tea special, and as tea growers pursuing a generational passion for tea, we respect Nature as the architect of taste and goodness in our teas. Linking that luxury to the complex flavours, textures and tastes in herbs, roots and spices from around the world is a special privilege; it elevates the tea experience with heritage, artisanship and flavours from around the world, personalizing by our teas in an entirely natural adventure in taste and wellness.

We are at Anuga Food show this week, presenting Gourmet Retailers and Luxury Hospitality operators, the finest Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon with the assurance of great Taste, natural Good was and the Kindness to people and nature. We are celebrating 40 years since my father first launched our family tea with tea inspired innovation. Come visit, Hall 8.1, Stand C071.

t-Lounge by Dilmah, the expression of our passion for the finest tea, tea inspired gastronomy & mixology, is reborn as Dilmah Urban Estate, at Franchising & Licensing Asia, Marina Bay Sands. Anyone wishing to partner with us in offering tea inspired taste adventure, in the form of genuinely ethical tea experiences with great taste, natural Goodness and ethical Purpose, come visit.

Our newest t-Lounge & Bar is at The Shoppes at Colombo’s City of Dreams and it is serving extraordinary teas, tea cocktails and tea gastronomy, Sri Lankan style from 10am to 10pm. Luxury brewed with taste, goodness, purpose and a lot of love. Now open and serving tea inspired experiences.

Sri Lanka is resplendent because of her incredible biodiversity. The launch of Himesh Jayasinghe’s ‘Discovery, additions to the flora of Ceylon’ changes our knowledge of the richness of that natural heritage. Dilmah Conservation is truly proud to support Himesh’s passionate efforts and publish this incredible work. Launching at Dilmah’s Genesis, Centre for a Sustainable Future today. If you want it at the special, pre publication price check out the link. tinyurl.com/3swyvupf

In Memoriam. The world’s Teamaker, Merrill J. Fernando (May 6th, 1930-July 20th, 2023). A life devoted to tea & kindness, he achieved an impossible dream with invincible faith, absolute integrity and relentless determination. We - his generations - pursue his lifelong mission and honour his memory by building on the heart of kindness he epitomized - a legacy of uncompromising commitment to taste, goodness and ethical purpose. His Soul surely rests in Peace in the arms of his beloved Lord.

Presenting our Ceylon Tea Journey single garden teas in Tokyo today was a pleasure & privilege. For my family, taste must respect nature, embrace livelihoods and makes life better for guests with sensory pleasure and natural flavonoid goodness. That’s my father’s philosophy; family business defined by family values.

Celebrating our partnership with Australia’s Cancer Council is deeply fulfilling. Research, awareness, behavioural change, early detection are vital in improving the dire statistics around cancer. Nearly 1 in 2 Australians may confront cancer. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea with Dilmah will strengthen these efforts. To your good health, Australia.

What a week .. sharing our Dilmah story with New Zealand radio personalities Jono & Ben. From a sampling of how we taste 10,000 teas each week to inserting the coveted golden tickets for Kiwis to Win a Trip to visit Sri Lanka into packs of Dilmah Tea, and nearly touching the clouds on the Upper Division of Dunkeld Estate. There was a celebration of International Tea Day l, plenty of tea inspired cuisine and even a game of cricket in between. Bon voyage, gentlemen.

New Zealand radio celebrities Jono & Ben are trying their hands at picking tea on Dunkeld Estate. Our tea pickers cannot hide their amusement but the boys are confident. Well done guys, love the gold suits.