The beautiful Nilgiri Hills, sprawling through the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, are home to the pastoral Toda tribe and tea gardens that create the fragrant cup of tea. Nilgiri tea has a slightly fruity, minty flavour, probably because trees like the Blue Gum and Eucalyptus dot the region. And perhaps the spices produced in close proximity to the tea gardens lend the light brew its briskness.  The balanced blend of flavour and body makes Nilgiri tea a ‘blender’s dream’. The Nilgiri Hills aka the ‘Blue Mountains’ come under the influence of both south-west and north-east monsoons; a reason why the tea leaves grown here are plucked around the year. Nilgiri Orthodox tea is a registered Geographical Indication (GI). Both Orthodox and CTC varieties of tea are manufactured in this region.