Origin: Upper Assam, Northeast India

Plucking Season: Mid Summer

Introduction: Assam, regarded for the genesis of Indian tea, is the largest tea growing region in the world. It is divided by elevation (upper and lower Assam), and by the Brahmaputra river that runs through the state. Robert Bruce, an official of the British empire, is credited with the discovery of tea in Assam in 1823, and for the publicity of the existence of the plant. However, the Singpow tribes in Upper Assam are known to have used wild growing tea plants a long time before Bruce’s discovery.

In Assam, tea is grown both in the Brahmaputra and Barak plains. Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur are the districts where tea gardens are mostly found. Assam produces 51% of the tea produced in India and about 1/6th of the tea produced in the world. In 1911 a Tea Research Centre was started at Toklai in Jorhat for developing more scientific and fruitful methods of cultivating tea plants, applying fertilizer, testing soil, selecting sites for garden and processing tea leaves. This is the oldest and largest Tea Research Center in the world.

Traditionally, the gardens in Assam have produced black teas known for their full flavor, rich and malty taste. The native varietal growing in abundance in this region is the Camellia Assamica. The annual tea plucking season in Assam begins in April with a first flush (first plucking). However, the second Flush (may - June) produces the highly sought after Assam black teas that are more robust tea and with a lot of tippy character.

The Golden Tips Assam is made from a distinct Camellia Assamica plant varietal growing only at a handful of estates. The leaves are withered, bruised with a rolling machine, oxidized and then over roasted. In making the Golden tips, the oxidization is slightly longer than in the case of making darker Assams. The golden tips are precious for the tea gardens as they fetch a higher premium in the market.

Flavor Profile: Smooth textured, amber red liquor with apple and pear flavors. The high volume of essential oils in the Golden Tips Assam is evident immediately after the tea is served, as a thin layer of oil quickly coats the surface of the tea giving it a self-creaming appearance. These are beneficial oils that protect the body from carcinogens and give tea its anti-aging properties.

Brewing Suggestions