The deepest roots of the Akbarally family tree go back to the earliest converts to the Bohra faith in 11th century Gujarat. From the shoots of this tree came many generations of religious men, including several Da'i al-Mutlaq , the spiritual leaders of the Bohra community worldwide. Five hundred years later, a branch of the family settled in the ancient port city of Mandvi in the Gulf of Kutch in India's north-west, and there they flourished as seafaring traders.

Just over a 150 years ago, one of the sons of the merchant- mariners of Mandvi, Shaikh Hebtulabhoy Abdulally, set sail to Ceylon with his family and set down fresh roots in the island's fertile soil. He established his merchant business at a time when the island's tea industry was still embryonic, and during the decades that followed, the family firm grew up alongside Ceylon's first tea gardens.

As the industry blossomed, the spirit of tea infused the Akbarally blood. Tea became the core of family business and for five generations now tea has mingled with the family's rich heritage, becoming an essential element of the unique blend that makes them who they are.