Another not-overly-malty-Assam that nonetheless is a very compelling and delicious tea. I am continuing my run of brewing pots of Assam late in the afternoon to give me enough caffeine to punch through the evening hours, and this is today’s pot. The first thing I noticed about it was the color: the pot immediately turned a dark coppery caramel color and I thought I was going to have a deeply malty Assam on my lips. This tea isn’t overly malty, though. Unlike some of the other Assams I’ve tried recently that taste a bit like a nice Ceylon, this tea does not. It stands on its own, clearly an Assam, but not a traditional Assam. After a brisk body, it finishes with a mouthful of spice, not overly spicy, but rather politely so.
Halmari Estate Assam GTGFBOP CL
Black Tea by Upton Tea Imports
This is one of the outstanding picks from the peak of the 2011 harvest season. The striking leaves are beautiful, decorated with a generous complement of golden tips. The deep coppery-red cup has a full body with a pleasing malty taste and subtle spicy nuances.
