Madura is Tamil for ‘Paradise’, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at our Tweed Valley plantation.
Our little piece of paradise comprises in part, 250,000 tea bushes, nestled in a region of pristine rainforests, streams and rivers on the outskirts of Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales. It is here - at Australia’s only sub-tropical tea plantation – that we grow, blend and pack Australia’s leading range of exquisite specialty teas.
The Madura estate was established in 1978 by a third-generation tea planter from Ceylon, Michael Grant-Cook, and his wife Norma. From the outset, Mike’s vision was to blend his own tea with premium teas from around the world to produce a unique brew unrivalled in flavour and aroma. He chose the Tweed Valley for its ideal climactic conditions and geographical resemblance to Assam in north east India - the home for thousands of years of one of the unique species of tea.
Michael’s business philosophy was simple: All product development, tasting, grading, blending and packing must be done on the estate to ensure quality from plantation to cup.
A tea purist at heart, Michael was also an Australian pioneer of sustainable tea farming, taking early steps to nurture the delicate ecosystems that supported his tea plantation. Today, the Madura estate continues to operate in harmony with the natural environment - and is home to endangered plants and native wildlife including platypus, echidnas, koalas, tortoises and quail.
In the late 1980s, Madura introduced Australia’s first green tea to the market. It was an instant success with local tea drinkers who enjoyed the subtle flavour of a green tea developed specifically for a Western palate seeking a sweeter, less sharp, brew. To this day, Madura is Australia’s most popular green tea.
In 2000, Madura established one of the most modern tea packing facilities in the southern hemisphere to guarantee tea freshness and flavour – setting a new benchmark for tea marketers in Australia.
Madura is now guided by four local families who are recognised for best-practice in sustainable tea farming and production. The Madura ‘family’ comprises more than 50 staff working diligently to produce Australia’s leading specialty tea for connoisseurs across the globe.
