ASSAM TEA

production | Plants

Facts
Robert Bruce dicovered the first wild tea plants in this area in 1823 and it was from Assam the first tea chests came to London's tea auctions. The first tea plantation started in Assam 1835.

In 1867 iron boats navigated the narrow streams that lead to some of the factories and carried coal for steam machinery. Houses with corrigated galvanized iron roofs were built, new clearnaces were made, and new grants of land was applied for and obtained.

Assam is located in northeast India and through this India State flows the mighty Brahmaputra River. Assam is the home of the one-horned rhino. It has jungles and magnificent mountains. It is the world’s single largest tea-growing region, producing more than 1,500,000 pounds of tea annually. Most of this tea is high iin quality. There are some stunning, absolutely stunning, high quality (and very expensive) teas produced in this tea wonderland.

Assam, as with Darjeeling, has a first flush and a second flush. The first flush has a rich and fresh aroma; the second flush produces the famous "tippy teas." It is this feature of the teas of the second flush which makes them more popular. (Tippy refers to black tea with gold tips or what appears to be golden-colored leaf). The amount of tip will vary dependent upon where in Assam the estate from which the tea comes is located. Additionally, not all tea estates have the ability or capacity to produce "tippy teas."

The golden tip present in Assam tea, tends to lessen the astringent 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.

The production of black tea can be divided into two categories: (1) Orthodox and, (2) CTC (Crush, Tear and Curl). Tea produced using the Orthodox method is valued most by the international market.

CTC teas are, for the most part, consumed in the India domestic market primarily because making tea in the India method is done by boiling leaves in a mixture of milk, water and sugar and some spices (producing a Chai or Masala) and the CTC teas produce a rich red color when they are boiled, thus adding a beautiful color which comes through the white of the milk but yet does not produce a bitterness (in that preparation). Orthodox teas must be steeped (infused) according to individual taste preferences but as a rule of preparation at least 5 minutes.

Production
The upper Assam valley is the largest tea producing area in the world (187 000 ha) and contains over 700 tea gardens. The tea industry in Assam gives about 500 000 people work. About 12-15% of Assam's population depends on the tea industry. An average year, 300 million kilos of tea is produced in Assam.

The Plants
The best teas are typically grown at higher altitudes but Assam teas are an exception. The climate, the soil, and the indigenous tea plants genetic make up give Assam teas their characteristic full bodied strong taste and dark liquor.

This native Indian variety or "jat" of the tea plant thrives in this environment and produces a product much superior to the Chinese variety that was introduced here in the 1800's. Through the careful selection and breeding of clonal plants and seed stocks, the Assam planters have succeeded in growing tea bushes which have very high yields. Assam produces both orthodox and CTC tea.