Pitted this one up against two other Assam teas in a taste test. I carefully measure the tea (by weight) the time steeped (2 min to prevent bitterness,) and the sugar amount so all are done the same. Of the three, this one came out on top IMHO. It’s smooth with very little if any astringency. Has a nice caramel malty flavor with no lingering bitterness. I added no dairy products and it’s a nice cup just with the sweetener.
Preparation
People who liked this
Comments
Very interesting. Assam is usually considered a tea to have with milk/cream. By steeping a shorter time, you get a non-bitter cup that doesn’t need the dairy. Will have to try that with the two Assams I have on hand.
Yes I have found that anything over 2 1/2 minutes with most if not all assam teas results in bitterness. Chinese black teas I don’t find that to be the case. Not sure why that is. Given that most black teas in bags are usually an assam and that nearly all give instructions to steep 5 minutes, no wonder most Americans don’t like black tea. I figure you give them a quality loose leaf tea steeped the proper time and they would like it. Even Chinese black teas I steep 3 minutes as a general rule. But even going up to 5 with them usually won’t be bitter.
Have seen a lot of info online recommending to brew black teas 5 mins. My humans do that. They like their tea strong. Will have to get them to try this other way. They have some bad tea habits. I’m retraining them, but it takes time. :-)
Strong tea comes from more leaf in the cup or pot, not longer brew times. Beyond 2-3 minutes tannins in the tea are extracted which results in the bitter taste.
Thanks, Teaman. :-)
Very interesting. Assam is usually considered a tea to have with milk/cream. By steeping a shorter time, you get a non-bitter cup that doesn’t need the dairy. Will have to try that with the two Assams I have on hand.
Yes I have found that anything over 2 1/2 minutes with most if not all assam teas results in bitterness. Chinese black teas I don’t find that to be the case. Not sure why that is. Given that most black teas in bags are usually an assam and that nearly all give instructions to steep 5 minutes, no wonder most Americans don’t like black tea. I figure you give them a quality loose leaf tea steeped the proper time and they would like it. Even Chinese black teas I steep 3 minutes as a general rule. But even going up to 5 with them usually won’t be bitter.
Have seen a lot of info online recommending to brew black teas 5 mins. My humans do that. They like their tea strong. Will have to get them to try this other way. They have some bad tea habits. I’m retraining them, but it takes time. :-)
Strong tea comes from more leaf in the cup or pot, not longer brew times. Beyond 2-3 minutes tannins in the tea are extracted which results in the bitter taste.
Thanks, Teaman. :-)