From Ceylon to Cheltenham: Our family story
Cheltenham, Victoria · Australian family-owned
Who we are
TEA TOP CEYLON is an Australian family-owned small business based in Cheltenham, Melbourne. We select fine pure Ceylon teas for Australian families who appreciate where their tea comes from, how it was made and the difference thoughtful selection makes in the cup.
The brothers
Brothers Anton and Frank Fernando grew up in Sri Lanka in a family whose knowledge of tea spans generations. Tea was part of everyday life: discussed at the table, judged in the cup and understood as a craft. Long before they packed their first tin, they were learning to recognise provenance, condition and quality.
They later came to Australia for their higher education, each completing a bachelor’s degree in Information and Communication Technology before enjoying successful careers in their fields. Their next challenge brought them back to what they knew from home: creating a tea business founded on family expertise, careful selection and an enduring connection to Ceylon.
A family of tasters
Their father and uncle are third-generation Ceylon tea tasters. When Anton and Frank began TEA TOP, that experience became the foundation of the range. Together, they tasted, compared and refined the catalogue, choosing teas for their clarity, balance and distinctive Ceylon character.
Their guidance helped the brothers carry a family tradition into a new generation and a new country. It remains our standard today: every tea must be one we are proud to serve at our own family table.
From Ceylon to Cheltenham
Ceylon gave Anton and Frank their knowledge, heritage and relationships; Cheltenham is where they now share them with Australia. From Melbourne’s south-east, we bring authentic Ceylon tea to family tables across the country—for the first cup of the morning, an unhurried afternoon pot and the conversations that happen whenever tea is poured.
Small batches, exacting standards
We source directly from selected tea gardens rather than buying anonymous bulk lots through the Colombo tea auction. These relationships give us greater traceability and allow us to choose teas for their provenance, condition and distinctive cup character.
We order in small, considered batches so we can assess each arrival carefully and manage the collection with precision. Some teas are at their most expressive when young; others develop greater depth and harmony with time. Our role is not to rush the leaf, but to present each tea at its best—balanced, distinctive and true to the garden from which it came.
Our promise
No artificial additives
No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives—just a clean, expressive cup shaped by the leaf, the garden and the skill of the maker.
Sustainably grown & ethically sourced
We choose gardens and partners that share our respect for people, place and the future of Ceylon tea. Responsible sourcing is part of how we assess quality.
Single origin
Every tea begins in Sri Lanka. Its elevation, climate and growing region remain part of its identity, giving each cup a genuine sense of place.
Single estate
We source from selected tea estates in considered quantities, preserving provenance and allowing the individual character of each garden to remain clear in the cup.
From our family to yours, we invite you to discover Ceylon tea selected with knowledge, sourced with care and thoughtfully handled for the Australian table.