I’ve been waiting for news from these guys since what feels like the dawn of time! So when it finally happened I hastily bought me a set. (and threw in a set of S3 too, just because it was there and the Caravan is teh awesum!) I was interested to see that they had an Assam again, since they’d had one before. I never got to try any of S2 so it suited me fine. And yes, I’m aware that it’s not the same one, but it’s close enough. I was a little afraid of it, to be honest. What if it would turn out to be The Perfect Assam? Just my luck that my TPA would turn out to be a limited edition!
The leaves smelled very raisin-y sweet dry and it’s more or less the same thing after steeping. I managed to overbrew it a tad, so it’s rather strong this morning. Typical when trying something for the first time.
It’s got quite a sticky astringency. It is astringent, largely I expect due to my own brewing mistake, but there’s a feeling to it as if there’s sugar in it. Sort of sweet in a sticky way, a bit like the way soda is sticky. The raisin flavour is intact though, as is the funny cardboard-y quality.
Raisins and cardboard. The Assam characteristics, apparently.
In spite of it being overdone, I feel safe enough in giving it a preliminary rating. As always it’s likely to be adjusted several times when I manage to get a proper cup put together. I don’t know yet if it is the Perfect Assam or not, but it’s definitely not eliminated from the competition.
