Nilgiris tea

The word "Nilgiris", translated, means "Blue Mountain"; and blue they are. They are the most spectacular and picturesque mountain range in South India. A very good friend of mine, who is in the tea business, came from the Nilgiri region and has always had a passion for the Nilgiris teas.

Nilgiris teas have long suffered the place of a third cousin behind the popularity of Darjeelings and Assams. Nevertheless, this third cousin is beginning to play a major role in some of the most successful gourmet tea ventures in North America. Nilgiris teas have the right balance of strength, color and astringency to satisfy the needs of tea drinkers ranging from the layman to the connoisseur.

The Nilgiris Tea Growers Association has made great progress in changing the way Nilgiris teas are grown and manufactured and the way they are being used in the industry.

Nilgiris teas produce bright and brisk tea liquors and they do not cloud. The tea-drinking public has yet to discover this gem of a tea from the south of India. I, however, have tapped into this richness and have been offering superior quality Nilgiris for years. The cost of a Nilgiris of superior quality can be high but the gain in quality of product makes this worthwhile.

Nilgiris teas are grown throughout the year, unlike teas from Darjeeling or Assam. Nilgiris teas are often referred to as "The Fragrant One." The flavor and fragrance of a superior Nilgiris is the result of the high elevation at which it is grown. Nilgiris teas are grown among eucalyptus, blue gum and cypress plants and the tea tends to have a flavor hint of mint/lemon/eucalyptus.