Assam Tea TGFOP1 - 2nd Flush

Abbreviations can be a little confusing. I thought TGFOP1 stood for “Thank God For Oscar Peterson’s 1st Symphony”. Only when I became a …erm… tea aficionado did I learn it means Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe #1 (number 1 denoting the very finest grade), and even that at first seemed about as clear as a gluten-free brownie. However, a quick glance on our Nerd Zone tab (above) will reveal that it’s not all double-Dutch.

Assam is well-loved as a delightful, astringent black tea. Our choice is from this delicious second flush from the region of Assam in NE India. The leaves are large, twisted, warm brown and flecked with gold tips (a bit like a footballer’s highlighted perm from the mid-80’s). The infusion is such a stunning mid-amber colour, that were Da Vinci alive, he would most likely dip his is paint brush into it and start on another Madonna and child canvas. And the taste is rich, sweet, malty and smooth. The cup is bright and clean. Enjoy ideally naked or with lemon or milk, a great way to salute a new morning.

Country - India
Origin  - Assam
Leaf  - Large, twisted, warm copper colour and flecked with gold tips
Aroma - Floral aroma with a hint of soft leather / hay
Liquor - Mid-amber / copper colour
Cupping Notes - Delicate, clean cup, smooth, slightly malty, notes of apricot
Brewing Tips - 2.5g in 200ml of water at 100c.  Steep for 4-5 mins

About the Assam Region:

This region of India is located in the NE of the country. Assam literally means: “Land of the one-horned rhino” and is a stunning area of dense forest and rolling hills where the vast Brahmaputra River carries rich fertile soil from Tibetan mountains to the agricultural plains that flank the river. It’s a bit like the Lake District without shops selling Kendal Mint Cake and the bank holiday traffic.

Assam is the largest tea-growing area of India, accounting for over 55% of India’s total tea production (around 850,000 tons).

The Brahmaputra Valley borders China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, although Assam teas are as different to Darjeelings as Liverpool fans are to Man Utd’s. Rainfall is extremely high in Assam, (80-120 inches p.a.). It’s not uncommon for a foot of rain to fall in a day and the temperature can reach 40°C on the plantations. The tea plants adore this humid, hot weather and they grow from spring to late autumn, before the cold weather slows their growth.

The grades for whole leaf orthodox black tea are: Ceylon orange pekoe (OP) grades