About Herman Teas

Taste the legendary Virgin White Tea, handpicked at dawn and treasured worldwide.

From the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka to the World

Herman Teas is more than a luxury brand - it is a story of heritage, sustainability, and the pursuit of the perfect cup.

Global Luxury, Rooted in Ceylon

Herman Teas from Ceylon is an independent global luxury tea brand produced exclusively at the family-owned Handunugoda Tea Estate in Sri Lanka's Southern Province. Nestled near the sea, our estate produces teas with a signature taste found nowhere else in the world.

We are artisanal producers—not industrial manufacturers—of highly sought-after, award-winning luxury teas. Each collection is personally crafted and handmade under the direction of our sole proprietor, Herman Gunaratne, a legendary figure in Sri Lanka's tea heritage.

A Legacy of Taste & Responsibility

Nestled near the sea in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, the Handunugoda Tea Estate has remained a cherished family treasure for over a century, belonging to the family of renowned tea connoisseur Malinga Herman Gunaratne. Passed down through three generations, this 200-acre coastal plantation—once part of a much larger holding—has been lovingly preserved and stewarded by the Gunaratne family. Under Herman Gunaratne's expert guidance as sole proprietor, the estate produces some of the world's rarest and most sought-after teas, including the legendary Virgin White Tea, untouched by human hands and celebrated for its exceptional purity and antioxidant richness.

Committed to environmental guardianship, the family integrates sustainable practices such as full solar powering, utilization of organic by-products for fuel, and surrounding rewilded forests, ensuring the land is passed on to future generations healthier and more vibrant than they received it. Through Herman Teas from Ceylon, an independent global luxury brand crafted exclusively here, the estate blends centuries-old artisanal traditions with modern conservation, creating teas with a unique signature taste found nowhere else while honoring both heritage and the planet.

Our Vision & Mission

Our Vision

To be the world leader in luxury teas with a truly global presence.

Our Mission

To delight customers around the globe with exotic teas, while enriching the lives of employees, workers, and stakeholders.

What Makes Us Unique

Signature Taste

One of the only tea estates in the world located just minutes from the sea, giving our teas their distinctive and delicate flavour.

Pure Ceylon Tea

100% authentic Ceylon tea - unmixed, unblended, pesticide - and insecticide-free - sourced from a single estate.

Garden Fresh

Handpicked, processed, and packed at our gardens to deliver freshness from estate to cup.

Orthodox Tea Crafting

Our teas are crafted using traditional Orthodox methods, perfected through centuries of tea production.

Tea Without Tears

We believe in fairness and sustainability. Through our Tea Without Tears initiative, benefits flow directly to our workers and communities, uplifting lives alongside quality tea.

Credentials & Recognition

National Chamber of Exporters

Best Small-Scale Exporter in Sri Lanka

Anuga Food Fair, Cologne

Most Innovative Tea Award for our Signature Collection

Mariage Frères Paris

Virgin White Tea served at luxury tea salons worldwide

Heritage with a Modern Soul

Heritage with a Modern Soul At Herman Teas, we believe tea is more than a beverage—it is ritual, heritage, and art. From emperor’s offerings of the Silk Route to today’s luxury tea boutiques, we remain devoted to producing teas that not only taste exquisite but also uphold principles of sustainability, fairness, and craftsmanship

Conservation at Heart

Herman Teas is not just about what grows—it’s about what returns. Vast tea fields are being rewilded with native fruit trees, water is preserved with sustainable irrigation ponds, and drought-resistant seedlings are shaping the estate’s future. The result? A thriving ecosystem where wildlife and birds have tripled in number.

Posted on Google Google
Lynzie Ryder profile picture
Lynzie Ryder
7 February 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Came here to learn more about the legendary white tea. Nice experience but the only problem the tea they sell is very expensive. So 4 stars.
Posted on Google Google
Sineth Suriyapperuma profile picture
Sineth Suriyapperuma
31 January 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Really great place 😁. Learned everything about tea. Learned everything about the taste of tea. This place will be a great place if it was in Nuwara eliya. Mr. Herman is a really good person 😊.
Posted on Google Google
Андрей Хропатый profile picture
Андрей Хропатый
30 January 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Хорошее место! Небольшая плантация чая, по которой вам проведут экскурсию, расскажут о том, как он растет, проведут дегустацию чая с шоколадным тортом, покажут как перерабатывают чай. На территории есть небольшая ферма: выращивают и душистый перец, и корицу. В магазине перед покупкой есть возможность продегустировать каждый вид чая и купить тот, который понравится. Цены высокие, за это сниму одну звезду.
Posted on Google Google
taldover profile picture
taldover
27 January 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We took the tour (1000 LKR per person) and it was really lovely to see the ins and outs of how tea is made. Enjoyed our tour guide, the detailed explanations, and the tea tasting afterwards. Definitely tourist prices but we enjoyed it regardless. Would be a miss not to see how tea is grown and made if you are a tea drinker! Interesting, full of nature, and yummy!
Posted on Google Google
Katarzyna Stecko profile picture
Katarzyna Stecko
25 January 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The Tour was lovely. We have been shown many plants and given lots of interesting facts not only about tea production. The Guide was professional, spoke good English and had a nice personality, it was a pleasure to take a walk with him. The tasting was very well arranged and altogether a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend a visit to this place, not only for tea enthusiasts
Posted on Google Google
Анжела Шушкова profile picture
Анжела Шушкова
22 January 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Очень интересный опыт😊 Идеально подойдет для ознакомления с процессом сбора и переработки чая. У оженная территория, всё логично организовано. Стоимость билета 1000 рупий с человека. Чай не покупали, посчитали, что стоимость очень сильно завышена.