Which Indian state is famous for producing Nilgiri tea?

Nilgiri tea is produced in Tamil Nadu, the Indian state containing the Nilgiris district.

The tea takes its name from the Nilgiri, or “Blue Mountains,” in the Western Ghats. Although the mountain range touches Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, Nilgiri tea is specifically defined as tea grown and processed in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district. British planters introduced tea plants from China in 1835, and commercial production expanded during the 1860s.

Nilgiri tea is usually a brisk, fragrant black tea, though estates also produce green, white, and oolong styles. Its bright liquor and ability to remain clear when chilled make it especially useful in iced tea and commercial blends. A common mix-up is to treat every tea grown near the Nilgiri Mountains as “Nilgiri tea”; the geographical designation is narrower. The region received a geographical indication registration in 2008.