94

I picked up this sample tea to try with my latest Upton order. The description of it sounded nice and relatively mild for an Assam. It was steeped for 4 minutes this morning in a glass teapot.

The tea liquor is a very dark orangish-brown. I was worried a bit that I had steeped this for too long, but it is very good. A strong cup to be sure; dark, sweet, traces of honey, a smattering of cocoa, and a tiny bit of pungency at the end. I’m not sure I am getting red apple but there is a natural fruitiness of some kind here. Not much bitterness or briskness to be found in the cup at all. You can drink this plain, but it also accommodates a splash of soymilk very well. Does not need sugar at all, in my opinion.

A very smooth and gentle Assam, and a great selection by Upton. Sometimes Assams can be too assertive and rough, especially for people with sensitive tummies. In my experience, finding a milder one is the key to success and since Upton has so many Assams, there is certainly one for everyone. I will certainly consider buying a full size of this and the price is certainly right: 125g for $7.80 at the time I am writing this.

On the [ever expanding] shopping list it goes!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
IllBeMother221B

I might have to add this to the growing Upton order.

TeaBrat

The sample is only $1.50. :)

Charles Thomas Draper

I think I should add this to my latest order. The I’m coffee-free order….

TeaBrat

Charles – you should at least get the sample. :)

Scott B

I was wondering if anyone makes a fuss over the arrival of 2nd Flush Assams, since it seems to be the preferred flush.

TeaBrat

@ScottB not that I know of…

Doug F

Sounds nice. I just finished my stash of Goomtee estate Assam from Upton which was also mild and very tasty.

ScottTeaMan

I can only speak for myself, and I do not make a huge fuss over Assam flushes Scott B, at least not like Darjeeling teas. :))

ScottTeaMan

Amy, thanks for listing the price. Upton’s has so many Assams I tend to overlook some of them. Now with a good review and a decent price, I may give this one a chance.

TeaBrat

@ScottTea – I picked this based on their description, they do a great job describing their teas without all the pretentious bullshit.

ScottTeaMan

I agree completely.

Charles Thomas Draper

Or pseudo poetry….

Doug F

It’s funny; I have all these great Chinese black teas but I find myself opening my cupboard and going for the Assams and Ceylons lately. I guess sometimes it’s comforting to have a nice “traditional” cup of black tea.

TeaBrat

Doug – I agree. I like Chinese black teas but also like a good Ceylon or an Assam, especially in the morning as a breakfast tea. :)

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Comments

IllBeMother221B

I might have to add this to the growing Upton order.

TeaBrat

The sample is only $1.50. :)

Charles Thomas Draper

I think I should add this to my latest order. The I’m coffee-free order….

TeaBrat

Charles – you should at least get the sample. :)

Scott B

I was wondering if anyone makes a fuss over the arrival of 2nd Flush Assams, since it seems to be the preferred flush.

TeaBrat

@ScottB not that I know of…

Doug F

Sounds nice. I just finished my stash of Goomtee estate Assam from Upton which was also mild and very tasty.

ScottTeaMan

I can only speak for myself, and I do not make a huge fuss over Assam flushes Scott B, at least not like Darjeeling teas. :))

ScottTeaMan

Amy, thanks for listing the price. Upton’s has so many Assams I tend to overlook some of them. Now with a good review and a decent price, I may give this one a chance.

TeaBrat

@ScottTea – I picked this based on their description, they do a great job describing their teas without all the pretentious bullshit.

ScottTeaMan

I agree completely.

Charles Thomas Draper

Or pseudo poetry….

Doug F

It’s funny; I have all these great Chinese black teas but I find myself opening my cupboard and going for the Assams and Ceylons lately. I guess sometimes it’s comforting to have a nice “traditional” cup of black tea.

TeaBrat

Doug – I agree. I like Chinese black teas but also like a good Ceylon or an Assam, especially in the morning as a breakfast tea. :)

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Bio

My profile pic is of a pink dahlia at Golden Gate Park.

Hobbies include: tea, making art, animals, vegan things, buddhism, nature, creativity, books, writing, cooking, meditation, yoga.

I am a fan of many different teas but my favorites are blacks and oolongs, chai, also like darjeeling and pu-erh. I’n always learning and expanding my horizons!

Dislikes include: bergamot, jasmine, highly tannic or bitter teas, overly judgmental and bitter people. :)

Live in San Francisco, I’m a SINK (single income, no kids) and love the urban life, but traveling out to the middle of nowhere is always fun too.

I tend to not drink things I know I will hate so a lot of my tea ratings are on the higher side. Here’s my rating system, sorta

95-100 I love this tea and would like to keep it around

94-90 An excellent tea which I may or may not repurchase

89-80 Pretty good, above average

79-70 Acceptable

69-60 Mundane – Will probably drink it if I have it

59-50 Ick

49 and below Nasty

Location

San Frandisco

Website

http://sanfrantea.teatra.de

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