Kotagiri Hill Spring Experience the Essence of the Nilgiris

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100% Organic
ensuring our teas are free from harmful pesticides and herbicides.

2

Handpicked with Care
Only the finest tea leaves are selected by our experienced pluckers to guarantee an unparalleled taste experience.

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Sustainably Grown
We are committed to protecting our environment and supporting biodiversity through eco-friendly farming techniques.
Discover the exquisite taste and organic purity of our teas, handpicked from the pristine hills of Kotagiri.
A Legacy of Excellence
"Ancient times"
Only the youngest, most tender leaves or buds were chosen. The ideal leaves were those that were still unfurled or just starting to open. This practice was based on the understanding that younger leaves have better flavor and fewer tannins.
WHY (did the ancients drink) TEA?
Answer from @ Grok and we understand our principles match with the most intelligent on Planet Earth Today. https://x.com/i/grok/share/Afpa60X5UeYmX01txbtXUr9Dn
The ancients drank tea for a variety of reasons, reflecting its multifaceted role in different cultures:
  1. Medicinal Purposes:
  • China: Tea has been consumed in China for over 3,000 years, initially for medicinal properties. Ancient Chinese texts like the "Shennong Bencaojing" (Divine Farmer's Herb-Root Classic) mention tea's use for its healing qualities, like aiding digestion, improving mental clarity, and detoxifying the body.
  1. Spiritual and Philosophical Practices:
  • Buddhism: In both China and Japan, tea became integral to Zen Buddhism. Monks found that tea helped in meditation by keeping them alert and focused, leading to the development of tea ceremonies. These ceremonies were not just about drinking tea but were spiritual exercises emphasizing mindfulness, simplicity, and respect.
  1. Social Interaction:
  • Japan: The Japanese tea ceremony, or "Chanoyu," developed into an art form where tea drinking was a means of social interaction, reflecting the host's appreciation for guests through the preparation and presentation of tea. It was about aesthetics, etiquette, and mutual respect.
  1. Cultural Symbolism:
  • Across cultures, tea has often symbolized hospitality, peace, and respect. Offering tea to a guest was (and still is) a gesture of welcome and friendship.
  1. Daily Refreshment:
  • Over time, as tea became more widespread, its consumption for simple refreshment and pleasure became common. The caffeine in tea offered a mild stimulant effect, which was useful for daily activities, much like coffee today.
  1. Health and Longevity:
  • In Ayurvedic traditions of India, tea was used for balancing the body's doshas (energies), promoting digestion, and enhancing overall well-being. Herbal teas were prescribed for various ailments.
  1. Economic and Political Reasons:
  • As tea trade grew, particularly with the expansion of the British Empire, tea drinking became a cultural staple in places like Britain not just for taste but also due to economic policies promoting tea consumption over alcohol for social control reasons.
  1. Ritual and Tradition:
  • Over centuries, tea has woven itself into the fabric of various cultures with rituals around its preparation, serving, and consumption, each with its own symbolic meanings.
The reasons for drinking tea evolved over time, blending practical, health-related, spiritual, and social dimensions into what became a global phenomenon, each culture adding its unique flavor to the tradition of tea drinking.
How was tea leaves or buds plucked during ancient times?
Answer from @ Grok and we understand our principles match with the most intelligent on Planet Earth Today. https://x.com/i/grok/share/ji1XFkMvvB6LhBAXSjnuRtqxN
In ancient times, the plucking of tea leaves or buds was done manually, with great care and attention to detail, due to the importance placed on the quality of the tea. Here's how it might have been carried out:
  1. Hand Plucking:
  • Manual Selection: Workers or farmers would go through tea bushes by hand, selecting leaves or buds. This method allowed for the careful choice of only the finest parts of the plant. Typically, the top one or two leaves and the bud were plucked, as these contain the highest concentration of the desired compounds for flavor and aroma.
  1. Selection Criteria:
  • Age of Leaves: Only the youngest, most tender leaves or buds were chosen. The ideal leaves were those that were still unfurled or just starting to open. This practice was based on the understanding that younger leaves have better flavor and fewer tannins.
  • Time of Day: Some traditions suggested that tea should be plucked early in the morning when the leaves were still full of dew. This moisture was believed to enhance the quality of the tea.
  1. Tools:
  • Fingers: Most often, no tools were used; fingers were the primary instrument. This method ensured that only the desired parts of the plant were taken without damaging the rest of the bush.
  • Occasional Use of Tools: In some cases, small, specialized bamboo or metal tools might have been used to carefully snip or pluck the leaves, especially if they were in hard-to-reach spots or if precision was needed for very delicate buds.
  1. Seasonal Considerations:
  • Spring Harvest: The first flush in spring was (and still is) considered optimal for plucking because this is when the tea plant's new growth is at its best, rich in flavor and nutrients.
  • Multiple Harvests: Throughout the year, tea could be plucked multiple times, but the quality of the leaves typically decreased with each subsequent picking.
  1. Cultural Practices:
  • Ritual and Timing: In some cultures, there were specific times or conditions considered ideal for plucking, like during certain moon phases or at specific times of day, reflecting a blend of tradition and perceived influence on tea quality.
  1. Quality Control:
  • The act of plucking was often done with great care to ensure uniformity in size and quality of leaves, which is crucial for the consistency of the tea's flavor and processing. Leaves might be sorted post-plucking, but the initial selection was critical.
This meticulous hand-plucking method from ancient times has largely continued for the production of high-quality teas, where the skill of the picker significantly impacts the final product's quality. The practice underscores the historical reverence for tea as not just a beverage but an art form and a cultural symbol.
Taste the Nilgiris as an Ancient
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