Nilgiri
Nilgiri tea comes from the Blue Mountains of southern India, grown at about 1,000-2,500 m, harvested year-round, and known for bright, fragrant liquor that stays clear when iced.
Definition
The Nilgiri Hills ("Blue Mountains") rise in the Western Ghats of southern India, mostly in Tamil Nadu with extensions into Kerala. Tea gardens there sit at roughly 1,000 to 2,500 m, making it one of India's high-elevation tea regions along with Darjeeling. Tea planting began in the first half of the 19th century and expanded into a large industry under British rule. Because the region is close to the equator, tea grows almost year-round, unlike the seasonal flushes of Darjeeling and Assam. Rain from both the southwest and northeast monsoons allows harvests through most months. A small specialty crop called frost tea comes from the coldest weeks of winter, around December and January, when slow growth concentrates aroma. Nilgiri tea is generally fragrant, bright and brisk, lighter than Assam and fuller than Darjeeling. Much of the output is CTC tea for blending and export, but a growing share is orthodox whole-leaf tea from named estates. Nilgiri tea has been registered as a geographical indication in India.
In Depth
Brew orthodox Nilgiri at 90-95°C (194-203°F), about 2.5 g per 250 ml for 3-4 minutes. It is pleasant without milk and takes a little milk without going flat.
Nilgiri is a favored base for iced tea because its liquor resists clouding (tea cream) when chilled, so a pitcher stays clear. Brew at double strength and pour over ice, or cold brew 10 g per liter for 8-10 hours.
Quality varies widely, since CTC volume tea and specialty estate tea share the name. Look for named estates such as Glendale or Korakundah, harvest season, and orthodox grades like FOP or BOP rather than an anonymous "Nilgiri" label. Frost teas are made in small volume and sell out quickly, so they are mostly found with specialty importers rather than in general retail.
See Also
- Indian Tea Regions
- Iced Tea
- Frost Tea