Coonoor is 18 km south of Ooty and considerably less crowded, which makes it the better base for anyone interested in tea estates rather than tourist bustle. The surrounding slopes are covered in Nilgiri tea — the estates around Coonoor produce some of the most prized black tea in India, with a distinctive muscatel character unlike Darjeeling or Assam.
Several estates allow visitors during the picking season (year-round, but most active from October to April). Highfield Tea Estate and Korakundah are among the better-known operations. A guide from either estate will walk you through the picking process, the withering and rolling, and the final grading — the smell of fresh-dried tea in a working factory is extraordinary. Sim's Park at Coonoor is a smaller, quieter version of Ooty's botanical garden, and less photographed for it.