Nahorhabi

Another JacquelineM tea..

This is very unique, especially as an Assam. There’s absolutely no bitterness as I’ve found with many Assams; instead, there’s a strange almost-sweetness that does have a hint of that cooked honey flavor that Harney & Sons advertises. I’m not getting much malt at all. This is really hard to describe, but I like it.

I had tried and loved a Nahorhabi from Upton during my intensive sampling of Assams a few months ago, and that one is now unavailable. So I was thrilled to find this tea at the Harney shop recently. I reserve it for weekend mornings so it’s a special treat and I won’t burn through it too quickly.

Like its Upton counterpart, this Nahorhabi is one of the smoothest Assams I’ve tasted, with the least tannic bite. Finding it was a particularly happy event because my stomach has been having trouble with tannins lately, which bodes ill for my future enjoyment of black teas in general and Assams in particular, not to mention some of my other favorite comestibles: red wine, dark chocolate, berries …. This development has prompted me to shorten my steep times, straining the brew into a thermos before the tannins come out in force, as well as to seek out mellower teas.

A WONDERFUL assam! It’s just about perfect. Not overpowering, but not at all meek. Not a spot of bitterness. A real delight to drink. I had it with a cranberry upside down cake that I made, and it had enough body to compliment the assertive and tangy cranberries. Absolutely love it.

Just received the new 2012 batch this week and it is sublime.

This is tea for the purist. An absolutely delicious aroma, classic assam color, perhaps slightly on the darker side. The taste provides just enough sweetness, just enough honey notes, and there is very little astringency. This is quite simply how I like my tea – unaided by external forces, so no sugar, no milk (or in my case almond or coconut milk). It is full of body yet smooth and soothing that you just want to keep it in your mouth and savor it just a while longer.

This is what a cup of black tea should taste like. Next up is the full leaf assam, and I’ll provide a comparison in that tasting note.

Nahorhabi is a broken (smaller pieces) Assam from a Jayshree Group garden. The small tea flecks have lots of golden tips, making for an intense brew balanced with cooked honey and malt flavors.

Arrived at the shop early to enjoy the calm and catch up! Brewed some of this delicious Assam to go with the moment. The big body and briskness are mellowed by the golden tips, giving it a nice wooden honey like flavor. Mmm. Day 2, here we come!

-EWH