Nilgiris Teas

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Nilgiris (The Fragrant One)

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.

Coonoor is the tea center of the Nilgiris auction centers where over one million pounds are sold each and every week. During the rainy season this amount doubles to over two million pounds. The key players in the international tea market are present at the auction center every week to do their buying.

Nilgiris teas from the estates of Tiger Hill, Corsley, Craigmore, Pascoes Woodlands, Colacumby, Nonsuch, Dunsandale, Chamraj, Parkside and Glendale are but a few of those which we have available, or will have available soon, to our customers. I take great pride in the Nilgiris which I offer and they are among my most favored teas.

In 1997, the Nilgiri growing region enjoyed good growing conditions. These conditions are projected to continue through 1998, and therefore quality should remain high on these few estates. Prices will vary due to the Supply/Demand scenario at the auction and as with teas from other parts of India, the very high quality will cost more.

The tea farms in the Nilgiris consist of a number of small growers who own farms ranging in size from a few acres to a few hundred acres. These growers sell their leaf to tea factories that in turn manufacture the tea. These factories are known as "bought leaf" factories. Bought leaf factories account for over 70% of CTC teas produced in the Nilgiris.

In 1997, as projected, we sold more Nilgiris than ever before and the Nilgiris outsold all of our Ceylon (Sri Lanka) teas combined. Each of our customers to whom we have recommended one or more of our Nilgiri teas has reordered. Their enjoyment seems to have soared to new heights. Brewing a good tea requires patience. Your patience will be rewarded with one of our Nilgiris.

The Tea Man

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