The Unique Qualities of Assam Tea
In an attempt to break the Chinese monopoly on tea, the British introduced many Chinese varieties of tea.
When the tea plant in Assam was discovered it enabled the British East India Company to establish tea trade. In the 1820’s this company began a large-scale production of tea in Assam.
The first tea garden was established in 1840 and by 1850 the industry had rapidly grown.
Assam tea was introduced to the West by Robert Bruce, a Scottish adventure who allegedly came across the plant growing wild in Assam. He was directed to where the local tribesman would be brewing the tea in 1823, his aim to get the leaves and have them scientifically examined.
Dying before this could be accomplished, Robert Bruce’s brother arranged for the examination in the 1930’s. Once conducted it was established that the plant was a variety of tea but was different to the Chinese version.
Today, Assam is not only one of the most famous tea districts throughout the world, it has also been the second largest producer of tea – only second to Southern China.
Assam tea is a black tea that is named after the region Assam, India. Manufactured in Assam India, Assam tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis var. Assamica (Masters). Popularly known as the ‘King of Teas’, Assam is the most favourite tea of all the tea lovers! The same tea plant is also traditionally used in Yunnan province in China. Taste the best strong black cup of tea with our organic and conventional Assam tea. Assam tea is well known for its body, malty flavour, briskness, and strong, bright colour.
Assam tea is the perfect breakfast accompaniment. For those partial to a dash of milk or sugar, it is the ideal choice.
With around 660 tea gardens, Assam is the largest tea-growing area in India yielding around 60 to 75 percent of the entire production. The tea grows at an altitude of 300 to 800m on both banks of the River Brahmaputra with its fertile virgin forest soil and hot and humid, tropical climate.
The region is situated in the north-eastern corner of India, bordering the counties of Bhutan to the northwest and Burma to the east. Assam is the birthplace of India’s indigenous tea bush: Camellia Sinensis, var. assamica. This tea plant variety produces larger leaves than Camellia sinensis, var. sinensis (China bush) and thrives in this lush tropical region.
During the cropping season, Assam’s tropical weather brings either seasonal rains and sweltering heat and high humidity, or periods of intense sunshine and high heat of up to 35C creating greenhouse like conditions. Fertile, low-lying land and the hot, wet climate combine to produce teas that are dark in colour, with a strong and distinctively malty flavour.
Health benefits of Assam Tea
This rich black tea variety boasts around 80mg of caffeine in every 250ml cup, which is why Assam leaves are a popular choice for breakfast blends. Such healthy doses of caffeine also make Assam tea a great alternative to coffee when you’re in need of an energy boost. Beyond the tea’s smooth buttery aftertaste, Assam leaves also come packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds that contribute to one’s overall wellbeing.
Some studies have shown that Assam tea is fantastic at revitalizing your immunity system and is even thought to prevent some cancers. It’s also known to have a positive impact on brain and heart health. All of which are good reasons to add Assam leaves into your tea selection at home.
Here at Hana Tea House, we pride ourselves on the elite quality of our Assam teas and work hard to make them luxurious and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s all part of our plan to provide you with the finest tea possible.
Making a pot or a cup of Assam tea with loose leaves is not as hard as it sounds, with easy-to-use infusers and strainers available. However, if you are looking for a quicker alternative, we do also offer a range of teas in resealable pack, including black teas, green teas, and herbal teas.
Interested in other teas? Look through our selections of black teas, green teas, and herbal teas to find the ones that are right for you.