Speciality-Food-Magazine-March-2025

43 specialityfoodmagazine.co.uk UPDATE SPOTLIGHT ON: DILMAH Kindness, sustainability, people and the planet matter to the family behind Dilmah – one of the world’s finest tea producers complex, golden infusion produced using leaves plucked fromSri Lanka’s lush Sabaragamuwa region. Caring for people and the planet “Sustainabilitymatters to our business because we have an enduring connectionwith nature and biodiversity,” explains Dilmah CEO, Dilhan C. Fernando, proudly. “It is nature’s sunshine, rainfall, wind and soil that produce the taste and goodness in our fine teas. We honour the inspiring legacy of kindness my father, the founder of Dilmah, taught us. That heart of kindness is our greatest strength today. Our MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation are funded by earnings fromyour cup of Dilmah. The Foundation builds schools and on doing what is right, and not what is profitable.” Dilmah is rightly renowned for the sheer variety and unrivalled flavour of its loose and bagged teas, with the ranges encompassing single estate PremiumCeylon, Exceptional, Inspiration, Gourmet and Decaffeinated selections, covetable Watte caddies, herbal teas, and elegant Ceylon Golden Pekoe – a Though it celebrates its heritage and traditional roots, Dilmah has been innovating and pushing boundaries within the tea industry from the very beginning – and that innovation never stops. The family’s latest launch, once again, brings something completely new to the market. Dilmah Elixir is a pure, low sugar, natural extract of beautiful single-estate Ceylon Tea, made from 100% tea leaves, which imparts antioxidant goodness and unmistakeable flavour to every single drop. ELIXIR LEADS THE WAY Crafting the artisanal Elixir begins at Dilmah’s Rilhena Estate, where tea leaves are hand picked and processed within 12 hours to preserve their heady aroma. The tea is then freshly extracted, evaporated under a vacuum, and enriched with honey, Vitamin C and natural sweeteners. “Our master teamakers have spent years perfecting each flavour, creating an exceptional taste experience,” says Dilhan. “Elixir is available in Black Tea and Green Tea variants, offering 13 gourmet flavours to suit every occasion, such as our very popular Black Tea with Peach, and Green Tea with Jasmine.” Easy to use, Elixir can simply be dropped into any dish or drink to elevate and enhance its taste – the ultimate convenience, with endless possibilities. “Whether you are a professional mixologist or just love experimenting with flavours, Dilmah Elixir transforms any drink or dish into a masterpiece. Make a refreshing iced tea, a delicious smoothie, a creamy milkshake, a cocktail or mocktail, or even a tea-infused soda or slushie – all in a matter of minutes,” Dilhan adds. hospitals, and funds scholarships and vocational training for the less fortunate, as well as nutrition, welfare, healthcare and housing for plantationworkers. Through Dilmah Conservation, we support initiatives related to biodiversity conservation and restoration, environmental education and awareness, and climate action. We touch the lives of over 100,000 people and transform countless ecosystems every year.” Dilmah’s focus on sustainability has amassed an extraordinary number of achievements. The business is zero to landfill, its tea bags are between 98% and 100% biodegradable, and at least 15% of pre-tax profits go to humanitarian projects. Just a few examples include the planting of more than 1 million cashew trees, the creation of wildlife corridors in degraded tea plantations, safeguardingmore than 50kms of Sri Lankan coastline through the Beach Caretaker Programme, planting an urban arboretum, and launching a beekeeping project. That’s in addition tomany, many people-centred initiatives – from education programmes, to helping tomake women in Sri Lankamore financially independent. By choosing Dilmah tea, you’re contributing to shaping a better world. T ea has amagical quality. Exceptional tea stops you in your tracks, encouraging you to take pause, enjoy themoment, inhale its soothing aromas and just ‘be’. Leading excellence in this sector is Dilmah – a genuinely ethical enterprise, driven by kindness. Legendary teamaker Merrill J. Fernando founded the business in 1985, pioneering single-estate varieties, and establishing the world’s first producer-owned tea brand. Today, Merrill’s family continue his legacy, cultivating beautiful tea leaves in their own fine tea gardens, picking and packing in the place where they’re grown to ensure complete traceability throughout the chain, while empowering local workers and caring for the environment. Merrill was, say his family, “Driven by faith, and relentless determination as he pursued his desire to ‘make the world a better tea’.” They’re proud to follow in his footsteps. The true taste of tea Dilmah’s superpower is its absolute control over the tea growing process fromstart to finish, led by the family’s passion and dedication to crafting some of themost exquisite products in the world, while sticking to their core values and upholding integrity. “Maintaining the perspective of a tea grower in a category corroded by discounts and compromise is difficult,” they say. “But we believe that where quality – taste and goodness – are concerned, wemust always focus