Burnside Special OP Nilgiri (Chado)

I was immediately smitten when I tried a Burnside tea several years ago. It was the tea that launched my interest in the region. So, I was excited to try this Special OP and see if it measured up to that first love. I'm happy to report that this tea is even better.

The long and wiry dry leaf is quite fragrant and pleasantly fruity. Once wet, it is clear that this tea has received a careful oxidation, as there is a wide range of variegated color to in the leaf, from deep red to a bright, dark olive green. The liquor is a fairly brilliant red-amber, with a pronounced and balanced aroma featuring fruity and floral notes. The tea is medium to medium-light in body, but very flavorful, with a bunch of things going on. There are hints of cherry-like fruitiness, soft floral notes that I associate with green tea, and a nice citrus tang leading into the tasty aftertaste.

This tea is a bit more expensive (4 oz. @ $7.18) than many other Nilgiri OP teas, but it is, in my opinion, well worth it. Aromatic, flavorful, and balanced, this very enjoyable tea is near the top of my list of favorite teas.

Chamraj Oolong (Chado)

While the Nilgiri region has been traditionally known for its black teas, several estates have been producing Oolongs or Oolong-like black teas. The Nilgiri Oolongs I've tried have been quite impressive.

This Oolong from Chamraj is very nice. It's quite similar to a medium oxidized and medium roasted Dancong Oolong. There is some dimension to the interesting aroma, which carries a peachy fruitiness I normally associate with Dancong. In the mouth, the flavor is again quite like Dancong, but a bit softer and less astringent. The moderately long aftertaste is pleasantly sweet, with a hint of bitterness.

This tea is definitely worth a try if you're a fan of Oolongs.

Havukal OP Nilgiri (Chado)

Until I tried this tea, I thought you were pretty much assured of a solid, reasonably flavorful black tea when you selected a basic OP, BOP, or FOP from one of the major Nilgiri estates. Sure, I didn't expect much in the way of finesse, dimensionality, or nuance, but flavor and some aroma were a given.

The Havukal estate teas are competitive at auction and their specialty teas are well regarded. So, I thought I'd give this basic orthodox offering a try. This tea has a very meager aroma, and not a particularly Niligi-like one at that. It doesn't fare much better in the flavor department, where it comes across as pleasantly sweet and mild, but with a weak could-be-made-anywhere flavor. Surprisingly, the aftertaste does have a little tang and flavor.

I checked the aroma and look of the dry leaf. While it was not particularly fragrant, it did not smell or look particularly old. In fact, the dry leaf was more fragrant than the brewed tea. Perhaps this was just a weak batch.

Every tea has its place, and this one could be an excellent vehicle for flavored tea, as it does have some structure and a mild sweetness. It could also be used in an iced-tea blend. As a standalone hot tea, I can't recommend it.