FamilyA family business, serving humanity with kindness to people and nature. HomeFamily Dilmah Founder, Merrill J. Fernando devoted his life to tea in 1950. He dreamed of making the world a better tea, the finest quality, made ethically in the traditional, orthodox style, with kindness to people and nature. He fought vested interests and launched the first genuinely ethical, producer owned tea brand in 1985. Four decades later, united by his vision, the 2nd and 3rd generation of his family pursue his mission with the same uncompromising commitment to Quality, Integrity and Purpose. Array ( [] => [heading] => [sub_heading] => [media] => Array ( [media_type] => image [image] => 7115 [video_file] => [video_file_thumbnail] => [video_platform] => [video_id] => [video_thumbnail] => [show_in] => in-self ) [content] => Dilmah Founder, Merrill J. Fernando devoted his life to tea in 1950. He dreamed of making the world a better tea, the finest quality, made ethically in the traditional, orthodox style, with kindness to people and nature. He fought vested interests and launched the first genuinely ethical, producer owned tea brand in 1985. Four decades later, united by his vision, the 2nd and 3rd generation of his family pursue his mission with the same uncompromising commitment to Quality, Integrity and Purpose. [link] => [button2_link] => [image_position] => left [media_width] => 50 [is_milestone] => no [vertical_alignment] => top [section_title] => Dilmah Founder [section_toggle] => on [section_overflow] => hidden [section_width] => wide [section_height] => auto [section_animation] => off [background_type] => white [background_width_limit] => no [background_image] => Array ( [image] => ) [background_video] => Array ( [video] => [poster] => ) [background_position] => Array ( [pos_x] => [pos_y] => [pos_x_custom] => [pos_y_custom] => ) [background_parallax] => Array ( [parallax] => no [speed] => 1 [height] => 1.2 [contain] => yes ) [background_opacity] => 1 [background_brightness] => 1 [overlay_type] => off [overlay_color] => primary-dark [overlay_opacity] => 0.85 [overlay_height] => 85 [font-colour] => black ) In 2025, we celebrate the legacy of our late Founder, reaffirming our commitment to the Quality, Integrity and Purpose that defined his lifetime of devotion to tea. Our emblem features our Founder, and a figure representing the artisans to whose welfare he dedicated himself. The shield symbolises the faith and determination with which he fought to overturn a colonial economic system. It also conveys the elements in his arsenal – respect for Nature, her influence upon Taste and Goodness, the Kindness that he embedded at the heart of Dilmah, and his passion for Tea. Above the shield is a Kandyan crown, adding our Founder’s love for Sri Lanka, and his entirely authentic mission to take our tea to the world. Array ( [] => [heading] => [sub_heading] => [media] => Array ( [media_type] => image [image] => 7120 [video_file] => [video_file_thumbnail] => [video_platform] => [video_id] => [video_thumbnail] => [show_in] => in-self ) [content] => In 2025, we celebrate the legacy of our late Founder, reaffirming our commitment to the Quality, Integrity and Purpose that defined his lifetime of devotion to tea. Our emblem features our Founder, and a figure representing the artisans to whose welfare he dedicated himself. The shield symbolises the faith and determination with which he fought to overturn a colonial economic system. It also conveys the elements in his arsenal – respect for Nature, her influence upon Taste and Goodness, the Kindness that he embedded at the heart of Dilmah, and his passion for Tea. Above the shield is a Kandyan crown, adding our Founder’s love for Sri Lanka, and his entirely authentic mission to take our tea to the world. [link] => [button2_link] => [image_position] => right [media_width] => 50 [is_milestone] => no [vertical_alignment] => top [section_title] => Emblem [section_toggle] => on [section_overflow] => hidden [section_width] => wide [section_height] => auto [section_animation] => off [background_type] => white [background_width_limit] => no [background_image] => Array ( [image] => ) [background_video] => Array ( [video] => [poster] => ) [background_position] => Array ( [pos_x] => [pos_y] => [pos_x_custom] => [pos_y_custom] => ) [background_parallax] => Array ( [parallax] => no [speed] => 1 [height] => 1.2 [contain] => yes ) [background_opacity] => 1 [background_brightness] => 1 [overlay_type] => off [overlay_color] => primary-dark [overlay_opacity] => 0.85 [overlay_height] => 85 [font-colour] => black ) The Founder Merrill J. Fernando, the teamaker who devoted his life to tea and kindness. Founder Family Members A family business that honours its founding values without compromise. Family members Dilmah Story As a family of tea growers, our business is formed on our love for the taste, goodness and variety in fine tea. View the timeline of Dilmah’s story from when it was born in 1985. Dilmah Story Dilmah Blog From brewing tips to healthy recipes, products to projects, and plenty of examples of kindness to people and planet, gain an insight into the many stories that make up the Dilmah universe. Dilmah Family Blog
