The World Famous Assam Tea

Assam is located in north-eastern part of India. Assam - the home of the tiger and the one-horned rhino is the world’s single largest tea-growing region, producing more than 1,500,000 pounds of tea yearly. This land of wide spread tea gardens and tea estates, produces some absolutely stunning, high quality tea. The tea of Assam is mostly of commercial grade. It is a black tea  manufactured specifically from the plant Camellia sinensis assamica. It is known for its body, briskness, malty flavour and strong, bright colour. Assam teas are often sold as "breakfast teas". The quality of Assam tea is excellent. Assam tea has a first flush, a second flush and a third flush tea. Assam tea that is picked from March to May is known as first flush. March is when the Assam tea bushes begin to grow. First flush Assam tea is known for its strong, fresh flavour. The first flush has a rich and refreshing aroma. Second flush Assam tea is picked from June, with the main production taking place between July and September. Second flush Assam tea has a strong, creamy and malty taste and a dark-red colour. Some second flush Assam tea may also have a spicy tinge to its taste. Second flush Assam tea is sweeter in taste than first flush Assam tea, and is the most prized harvest for importers in Europe and North America. Second-flush Assam tea is also the most abundant of the varieties, as it is harvested during the monsoon season. The second flush produces the famous "tippy teas." It is this feature of the teas of the second flush which makes them more preferred. (Tippy refers to black tea with gold tips or what appears to be golden-coloured leaf). The amount of tip varies, depending upon where in Assam the tea estate from which the tea comes is located. The golden tip present in Assam tea, tends to lessen the bitter characteristic of the tea and make it sweet and smooth. Therefore, Assam tea can be malty, sweet and smooth, which are qualities enjoyed by all tea drinkers. Assam tea harvested from October to early December is known as the winter harvest (despite the harvest time being in autumn), or end-season harvest. It is the third flush tea. Assam tea is a full bodied tea with good malty flavour, which is good all day.