Name: Nilgiri Black Tea
Podcast Review Available?: Yes, click here.
Brand: Argo Tea
Type: Black tea
Form: Loose leaf
Cost: $4.95 for 2 ounces
Review: Nilgiri gets a bad rap, which is a shame, because it can also be a very tasty and versitile tea. While there are indeed some very good Nilgiri's out there, such as The Simple Leaf's Black Frost, most Nilgiri's are machine harvested and processed, and lack the subtlety of orthodox (i.e. hand picked and traditionally harvested) teas. Plus, while Nilgiri can have some deliciously deep flavors, many of these teas lack structure: No astringency or bitterness makes for a nice, mellow brew, but it can also mean that the round, supple flavors of the tea don't have anywhere to go on the palate.
Argo Tea's Nilgiri is of decent quality: The leaves are rather broken, with a somewhat muted nose of spice and a bit of tobacco. It infuses to a pretty dark amber liquor, with the spice/tobacco nose still present. On the palate, it is typically Niligiri-like, with warm, rich flavors that don't really seem to have a beginning or end: This is a tasty black tea, but there isn't a whole lot of substance to it.
On the other hand, this tea tastes great on ice, with a bit of lemon. (My theory as to why Nilgiris taste so good as iced teas is that the cold mutes its flavor somewhat, so that its rather weak structure can "catch-up" and make the tea taste more balanced.) It is also surprisingly tasty with milk and a bit of sugar: I am not fond of adding either to my tea, but this Nilgiri is a splendid alternative to an English breakfast blend or Assam for this sort of preparation. The milk and sugar bring out some surprising chocolate notes, alongside the spice.
Tips: This is a good tea on ice with lemon. It is also a good alternative to English Breakfast Tea for those who like their tea with milk and sugar.
To Order: For online ordering, or to find an Argo Tea Cafe near you, visit their website.
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