Assam Tea: Benefits and Flavour Features of the Legendary Indian Tea

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Assam tea is an Indian large leaf tea. It is the strongest and most intense. It has been cultivated for several centuries. The history of cultivation began in colonial India. The British, as true connoisseurs of tea, immediately drew attention to the trees reaching a height of 20 metres. It was these giants that became the basis of modern varieties.

Useful properties

Assam tea has a higher strength and viscosity than Chinese teas and also among other Indian teas. Its rich flavour with tartness but no bitterness makes it particularly attractive. Assam is not just delicious and invigorating, it is very healthy. Scientists have thoroughly studied its composition and have come to promising conclusions about its properties:

  • caffeine energises, it’s no coincidence that in the UK this drink is called breakfast tea: one cup helps you wake up and gain vigour for the day ahead;
  • vitamins strengthen immunity;
  • minerals compensate for the lack of useful elements;
  • antioxidants help to preserve youth, protect against pathological changes in cells;
  • flavonoids clean blood vessels from stagnation, strengthen their walls, protect against atherosclerosis, stimulate the brain;
  • organic acids and tannins improve metabolism, tonify.

Types of Assam tea

Assam is a variety that is not made from the Chinese subspecies of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis), but from the Indian subspecies (Asamiki). Its leaves are larger and different in flavour.

There are many varieties hidden under the common name. This makes you wonder what kind of Assam tea to choose. There are several criteria to be guided by.

The first is the size of the tea leaf. Remember that Assam tea can be not only large-leafed, but also small or medium-leafed. Although the best and elite is, of course, considered to be the large tea leaf size.

The second criterion is the different shades of flavour, which may appear depending on the place of cultivation and time of collection, as well as on the additives in the raw material. There are different brands and types of Assam tea:

  • Mokalbari – that famous honeyed hue that this group of Indian teas has become famous for;
  • Bari – the heady flavour of malt and spices beckons lovers of unusual teas;
  • Diju – a more intense fruit flavour and a red-golden colour of the brew, not quite typical for black tea.
  • Raidang – also characterised by red shimmers of colour, and the taste is reminiscent of expensive aged cognac;
  • Harmutti – a tea with character, which manifests itself in a heightened tartness that activates the taste buds;
  • Himalaya – a high-altitude luxury tea with an excellent spicy-malt flavour;
  • Jamguri – astringent aftertaste of dried fruit.

How and where it is grown

Assam tea is an Indian large-leaf tea. It has been cultivated for several centuries. The history of cultivation began in colonial India. The British, as true connoisseurs of tea, immediately paid attention to the trees reaching a height of 20 metres. It was these giants that became the basis of modern varieties.

Features of cultivation of Assam tea:

  1. The soil on tea plantations is not fertilised with chemicals. Tea is grown under natural conditions.
  2. Harvesting is done manually.
  3. In the mountainous areas you get elite large-leaf tea, in the lowlands – a product with small and medium-sized leaves.
  4. The leaves are tightly twisted and not crushed to a powdery state. Already by the appearance you can determine the quality of the raw material. Assam tea has beautiful golden veins.

The local climate allows harvesting 2 or 3 times a year. The most valuable leaves are those harvested from July to September, as they are very juicy. Young leaves and buds of plants are used in production. By the way, on modern plantations, the height of the trees does not exceed 2 metres.

Where to buy tea

Чай Ассам, Assam tea

Indians also produce flavoured assam, tea is a pleasure for some and commerce for others. We offer only natural varieties. Not in sachets or granules, but juicy and tasty large-leaf teas. You can also buy bulk tea on our website.

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