Having been born and educated in the Nilgiris, and having had the opportunity of being together with many TEA traders, planters and manufacturers, I take this expertise in bringing to your doorstep some exclusive TEA’s. – Rajesh Kumar
TEA STORY
The story of tea is no less than the story of a humble shrub that changed the world. Ever since a falling tea leaf fluttered into a Chinese emperor’s cup of water some 50 centuries ago, tea has inspired greatness, nourished nations, started wars and brought people together.
Originally cultivated by the British in the early 1800’s to meet high international demand and exceptional standards, tea is commercially grown in three primary areas of India: Darjeeling in the north, Assam in the northeast, and Nilgiri in the south.
The Nilgiris, or Blue Mountains, lie at the southwestern tip of India. This is an area of sweeping grasslands, dense jungles, home to herds of elephants. It’s also one of the few remaining natural habitats for Bengal tigers. The Nilgiri mountains rise to a height of 6,500 feet and receive an incredible 80 inches of rain each year.
Tea production began in Nilgiri in 1840 and today there are more than 60,000 acres under cultivation. As a result of the low latitude and warm, moist conditions, the tea plants bud year round. In fact, this is one of the few regions that receives two monsoons each year. Nilgiri teas are strong and well-balanced, with a smooth, rounded flavor. They are often used as the base for tea blends. Nilgiri also produces a rare type of tea, known as a “frost tea”, where the leaves are harvested in the winter. The quick chill creates a concentrated sweet and rosy flavor in the leaves, very similar to what you would find in an “ice wine.”