Created for luxury hospitality in India, the collection brings Dilmah’s distinctiveness as growers, with an uncompromising commitment to purity, provenance, taste and goodness, alongside its philosophy of ethical business for discerning consumers in the country.
The launch marks a significant milestone in Dilmah’s renewed focus on India, with Thambapanni being introduced through a curated, hospitality-led distribution model. The collection will be available through select luxury hotels, speciality cafes and fine dining restaurants. Fresh & Honest is Dilmah’s distribution partner in India.
With a presence across more than 105 countries globally, Dilmah has built its reputation on offering fine teas and creating tea-inspired hospitality experiences while remaining deeply connected to its values as a family business. Founded by the late Merrill J. Fernando in 1985, the company pioneered the concept of Single Origin Tea and became the world’s first producer-owned tea brand. From growing and handpicking to manufacturing and packing at source, Dilmah crafts tea and, since 2001, has also grown Ceylon Cinnamon, upholding its commitment to quality, authenticity and freshness.
The Thambapanni Luxury Collection draws on the ancient connection between India and Sri Lanka. The teas are named Thambapanni, the name Prince Vijaya and his followers gave Sri Lanka when he arrived on the island in 543 BC. Touching the earth near Mannar, their hands were covered with ochre-coloured soil, leading to the name Thambapanni, meaning copper-coloured palms.
The collection was developed over 12 months of rigorous tasting and refinement. The teas and infusions are designed to offer a distinctively Dilmah experience rooted in provenance and respect for each tea, spice and herb ingredient.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of Dilmah, said, “There is a revolution happening in India – the food culture is transformed by a new generation that demands purity, sustainability, authenticity, wellness, heritage and indulgence. Tea has all that and more. Our proposition for India is conditioned by my family’s uncompromising commitment to the culture, art and science of teamaking, and our emphasis on tea inspired innovation and wellness. These are all framed in Thambapanni, the ancient connection between India and Sri Lanka,. We created these teas exclusively for India. Each ingredient is perfected by us and made in India; it is an invitation to Indian consumers to experience tea differently and to appreciate the provenance, indulgence and kindness in every cup.”
The company’s vision begins, “Every cup of Dilmah is an act of kindness — and defiance. Merrill J. Fernando built our company on a refusal to accept commoditisation, compromise, or indifference to the people who grow the world’s food. That is our inheritance and our promise.”
The launch of Thambapanni represents the expression of that philosophy in a country whose tea industry struggles with the same challenges as Sri Lanka, while also presenting the passion of a family of tea makers.
At the heart of Dilmah is its Founder’s philosophy of business serving humanity, expressed through kindness to people and nature. Now stewarded by Merrill J. Fernando’s second and third generations, Dilmah dedicates 15% of pre-tax profits to directly impacting people and nature through the work of the MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation.
Thambapanni is central to the brand’s ambition to elevate appreciation of fine teas, their sensory and functional attributes, and their interaction with fine food and drink. Framed in family values, Dilmah brings four decades of experience in luxury hospitality around the world to India. The company aims to build a deeper connection with India’s evolving tea culture while remaining true to the philosophy, integrity and purpose that have shaped the brand.
Dilmah, the Sri Lankan family tea company founded by Merrill J. Fernando, the world’s most experienced teamaker, has championed quality, authenticity and variety in tea. Dilmah pioneered the concept of Single Origin Tea in 1985 when the family company went against industry trends to declare its commitment to authenticity. Garden-fresh, unblended tea is a hallmark of Dilmah and offers a unique taste of unblended Ceylon tea packed at source, where it is grown.
Dilmah also leads innovation in a global tea category that has suffered decline as a result of commoditisation. Signature events such as Chefs & the Teamaker and Real High Tea seek to educate and inspire hospitality professionals to offer guests a completely new tea experience. The events foster greater respect for tea as a healthy, natural and versatile beverage.
The Dilmah School of Tea seeks to inspire passion for tea through knowledge of its artisanal aspects among hospitality professionals, tea aficionados and consumers. Its emphasis is on the importance of Real Tea and the versatility of this natural herb in Tea Gastronomy, food pairing and Tea Mixology.
Dilmah is an Ethical Tea company, with all packaging profits retained in Sri Lanka to fund the MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. The launch of the Thambapanni Luxury Collection extends that family-led philosophy into India’s luxury hospitality sector, bringing the brand’s focus on provenance, craftsmanship, tea-inspired experiences and ethical business to a new collection created exclusively for the Indian market.
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