Crafted by Merrill J. Fernando, who founded Dilmah in 1985, the Teamaker's Private Reserve unveils a distinguished range of handpicked teas sourced from the finest tea gardens and masterfully blended by experts. Each tea variety tells a unique story, reflecting the rich heritage and craftsmanship that Dilmah has epitomized over the years.

The reputation that has been attained by the tea company has passed down through generations, with Dilmah careful to not sacrifice even an ounce of its quality and integrity, rooted in its family values. Luxury and family values are also what bind Dilmah and Raffles Jakarta together.

“This was my father's wish. So often you have business that focuses on the business of making profit. But in our case, I think from the foundations my father laid, it’s about a family business founded on family values, with an objective of course of indulging in our passion for tea, but aligning that with the livelihoods of people – aligning it with product integrity, offering a great product,” said Dilhan Fernando, CEO of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company.

“We share the same concept for the collaboration. It's not just, as Dilhan said, about the tea, the luxury and everything, but it's also the customer journey and the experience. Raffles is committed in our sustainability movement,” Mirah Marhaendra, Director of Marketing Communications for Raffles Jakarta, said. “Dilmah's packaging is biodegradable.  It is the whole experience. That's why we felt that it's a match. We felt that it's a match in how we run [our businesses]. Like tea with integrity, personalization for our guests and everything.”

She continued, sharing about the inherited culture of the guests that Raffles attract; “The more that we explore, the more that we get to know each other, [Dilhan] talks about the passing down through generations from his father – now [Dilmah] is with him.  It's also a generation concept for Raffles. From their grandmothers, now their parents, now their children [come to stay].  So, the generations are still here and we know all of them.”

Like strong family values, sustainability is another pillar that has been prioritized by the company. Dilhan never loses sight of the company’s purpose; to present tea with integrity through regenerative agricultural methods. Its sustainable practice is what puts Dilmah tea at the top, with a secret recipe that is incomparable.

“There are some estates where you have particular agroclimatic conditions – the wind conditions, the topology, the soils, where you have spectacular teas,” he explained. “So, in an agricultural product like tea, that is especially key because certain locations and the climate at particular times favors themselves to the production of exceptional teas.”

The tradition is kept alive with the way each cup is made to perfection. Tea leaves are handpicked by employees who have worked on the plantation for years, picking only the best leaves to bag and brew. For this particular collection, the tea company chose leaves from Somerset Estate, Imboolpittia Estate and Kataboola Estate (Dombagastalawa).

Guests were treated to an evening with an enchanting menu, curated with two teas infused by pastry chef Anom. They took delight in the Jivara Milk Chocolate Bar, infused with Dilmah Single Estate Earl Grey and Aromatic Citrus, and the Dilmah Mango-Scented Doombagastalawa,  a harmonious tea with the sweet flavor of mango and honey notes. 

Greeting guests on the day was Alberto Pizzaro from Barcelona, who served Dilmah’s Lover’s Leap tea as a welcome drink topped with berries. From August onward, enjoy the Raffles Afternoon Tea with a delightful pairing of Dilmah Teamaker's Private Reserve at The Writers Bar.

Popular

Power begins to return after outage in Indonesia's Bali island

'Devastated' Prince Harry says no UK return but seeks reconciliation

North Sumatra to investigate hot mudflow eruptions in Mandailing Natal