2025 Nilgiri Spring Black Tea from India

This early spring harvest from the Nilgiri Hills in southern India steeps to an amber liquor with a lively, expressive character. There's a mild wintergreen note that comes through clearly, along with herbal orange and green apple notes that add refreshing fruity acidity. The finish is really sweet with touches of caramel, honey, and cream. A hint of floral character emerges as well. The body is lighter and more delicate than typical Indian black teas, with a bright, sparkling quality that's vaguely reminiscent of Taiwan's Ruby 18 but more restrained. It's refreshing and engaging without being heavy. The wet leaves carry a nice aroma: a bit of wintergreen, sweet, and intriguing.

Nilgiri teas have earned recognition among tea explorers for their distinctive character. The region's high elevations, two monsoon seasons, and skilled production create teas that are naturally sweet, fruity, and floral with lower tannins than other Indian blacks. This isn't a milk tea but rather part of a wave of expressive, artfully crafted Indian black teas that have emerged over the past 15 years. As small growers in Nilgiri shifted from bulk CTC production to specialty orthodox processing, and as regions like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya developed their tea industries, international tea drinkers gained access to a more diverse range of Indian teas. These offer lighter oxidation, brighter character, and genuine complexity, distinct from both the malty boldness of Assam and the muscatel notes of Darjeeling.

2025 early spring harvest