At ten, my aesthetic was Hogwarts-style dark academia. In my teens, I lived for 90s rock music. In college, I clung to art history. The hobby that captivated me before my twenties were over was tea—I’m realizing anew just how relentlessly backward-looking my tastes are.
I read The Seasons of Tea, a book that recommends teas aligned with the 24 solar terms, the old way of dividing time. Since today happens to be Ipchun (Start of Spring), I thought I’d introduce them one by one, following the book’s chapters.
As a kid, a friend’s birthday in Ipchun made it feel special. After the post-holiday slump and January gloom, Ipchun always signals the real start of the year—and spring. Maybe it’s worth a little celebration.
The tea for Ipchun, when the sharp winter cold softens, and the streets are blanketed in a cozy layer of snow, is Nilgiri black tea from India. Counted among India’s three major black tea regions alongside Assam and Darjeeling, Nilgiri takes its name from mountains covered in purple kurinji flowers—Nilgiri, meaning “blue mountains.” With eucalyptus trees neighboring the tea estates and lending their fresh fragrance, the tea here is known for its gentle, refreshing floral notes.
It’s still freezing, but after weeks of deep cold, even a few degrees feel warmer. As we peel off our heavy coats and wait for spring, try Nilgiri black tea. It’s soft and calm, like cotton candy in a cup.
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