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The Nilgiris, with high mountain ranges, beautiful
valleys and salubrious climate support a wide range
of flora and fauna are so enchanting that they rightly
earned the name the "Queen of Hills".
The famous neela kurunji (Strobilanthus kunthianus)
in Nilgiris, blossoms once in 12 years. Among the
planting districts, Nilgiri occupy a prestigious
position. Besides being the largest tea tract in
south India, its name is associated with all virtues
that go to make a good cup of tea and is appropriately
referred to as the "southern Darjeeling".The
high elevation coupled with its characteristics
cold, dry and mist weather provide the quality attraction
the Nilgris teas which are flavors, and exquisitely
aromatic accompanied by a creamy mouth fell. The
district is bound by the Nilgiri - Wayanad planting
district on the west and Coimbatore district on
the east. The elevation ranges from 1000 to 2634
m. Doddabetta, the second highest peak in south
India is the crest of the hills. The high elevation
coupled with it characteristic cold, dry and misty
weather provide the distinctive quality attributes
the Nilgiri teas which are flavoury, fragrant and
exquisitely aromatic accompanied by a creamy mouthfeel.
 Coonoor
is situated on the eastern side of the southern
extremity of the Doddabetta range, at an altitude
of 1,858 m above the mean sea level. It is the second
largest hill station in the Nilgiris. Coonoor is
located 19 km away from Ooty, a well known hill
station of India.
The Regional Centre advises the estates in the Coonoor,
Kotagiri, Kundha and Ooty areas on all aspects relating
to the cultivation and processing of tea. The new
laboratory is well equipped with Gas Chromatograph,
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, UV-Visible
Spectrophotometer and a number of other instruments.
It is equipped to analyse black tea for various
quality parameters and volatile flavour compounds.
The lab can also undertake analysis of soils, fertilizers,
dolomite and certain fungicides. The centre also
pays attention to the interest of the small tea
growers in the Nilgiris. Several experiments relating
to agronomy, pest control and irrigation are also
being conducted at the centre. |
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