Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Product Description:
The best estate in Assam. The soil conditions and climate produce a mellow and malty Bukhail TGFOP to be savored and contemplated. Thick and malty but surprisingly airy with good flavour.
Taster’s Review:
This is a delightful Assam: very rich and hearty, but as the description above suggests, there is a sort of lightness to it as well. It isn’t as hefty as some Assam teas I’ve tried, but where it lacks in that heftiness, it more than makes up for with a smooth, almost silky character. This is a suave, debonair Assam.
One thing that I notice in particular is that this Assam lacks any real hint of bitterness to it. With most Assam teas that I’ve tasted, there always seems to be that undercurrent of bitterness to them, as if to infer that if it had been oversteeped, it would have surely given the cup a bitter bite. But I’m not tasting that here. There is some astringency, and I would classify it as a moderate astringency that develops to an almost strong astringency.
Other than the bitterness, there is much of what I would expect from an Assam: a robust flavor with a nice malty note, caramel-y sweetness, and a solid boldness to it – GUSTO – to rev up the engine when needed. But where some Assam teas can be somewhat rugged and hefty – what I shall call a manly masculinity – this Assam has more of a sophisticated polish that I would liken to a more civilized gentleman-like masculinity. Both types are enjoyable; each in their own way.
A fabulous Assam. If you like to add milk and honey to your tea, this one accepts them graciously, and makes a really good breakfast tea choice. Its smooth quality also makes for a pleasant afternoon tea. I’d recommend this Assam to those who have found the bite of other Assam teas to be more than they can handle. This one may be much more to your liking.
