Globally, Americans consume more than 84 billion servings of tea in 2019 alone, according to the Tea Association of the USA Inc. A popular type of tea you might not have considered is assam tea. What is assam tea? Assam tea is a popular breakfast beverage in many homes because of its rich malty flavor and savory aroma.
What is Assam tea? Assam tea is a tea made from the plant Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica leaves. As the name suggests, Assam tea is grown in Assam, Northeastern India. You can takeAssam tea black or with milk. You can also add tea spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and black peppercorn to give it a rich exotic flavor.
Learn more about Assam tea and its great benefits below!
What Does Assam Tea Taste Like?
Assam tea is known for having a rich full-bodied taste that also has a slightly malty flavor. It’s a tea that can be categorized in the same family as a breakfast tea such as English Breakfast tea.
Why is Assam Tea Malty?
Assam tea is grown in a very rainy and hot and humid environment. The Assam region receives more than 10 inches of rain during monsoon periods and deals with high temperatures and even higher humidity levels. This growing environment is responsible for the unique and malty taste of Assam tea.
What Is Assam Tea Good For?
Assam tea is a unique and popular tea that has a rich supply of tea compounds that some studies show boosts the immune system and may provide stress relieving benefits. Wellbeing is important, so we should always a raise a cup to feeling good!
Why is Assam Tea So Famous?
As mentioned earlier, Assam teahas a unique flavor and taste, making it popular, especially as a breakfast beverage. However, you can also enjoy the tea at any time of the day. It's also an ideal beverage for guests, as it's easy to prepare and gives you different options and tastes that you and your guests will enjoy.
For instance, you can serve Assam tea:
- Black
- With milk
- Iced
- Spiced
Assam tea is also a popular beverage because of:
- Caffeine levels
- Health benefits
- It's a good tea to drink throughout the day
- It has a calming effect
Do You Put Milk in Assam Tea?
You can add milk and sugar in Assam tea. Others like it without any added ingredients other than the deliciousness that comes out of every tea bag. It’s really a personal preference!
When Should I Drink Assam Tea?
The most popular time to drink Assam tea is in the morning. However, it’s a great tea to have any time of the day and can be taken as we mentioned with milk and sugar to spice up how you want your Assam tea to taste throughout the day.
Is Assam Tea Common?
People ask these questions all the time: Is Assam tea popular and is Assam tea normal? We would say Assam tea is a very popular black tea grown in the Indian state of Assam. It’s a very popular tea for those that love a rich tea. It’s also a tea that is used as a base for chai tea, which makes it even more common for those that didn’t even know about Assam tea’s roots.
Where Does Assam Tea Come From?
Speaking of roots, Assam tea comes from Assam, India, the most expansive tea-growing area in India. Here, you'll find extensive tea-growing fields.
The tea's history dates back more than 200 years ago when the British introduced tea to India but found an already wild growing variety. Assam tea is a full-bodied, globally famous tea and makes up the second-highest source of tea worldwide
After the harvesting, the leaves are given time to wither. Then the leaves undergo a fermentation process in a controlled temperature area. The oxidation process chemically changes the leaves, and the result is the unique color, flavor and aroma distinct to Assam tea.
The stages after tea picking are
- Withering
- Fixing
- Oxidation
- Rolling
- Drying
- Aging
A controlled amount of temperature introduced during the fixing period changes the color of the leaves from green to brown. It's believed that the more the leaves are exposed to the heat, the more aromatic the tea.
Who Invented Tea in Assam and When Was Tea Discovered in Assam?
Assam tea was discovered in 1823. That’s when the first Indian tea bushes were found growing wild in the bushes by Scottish traveler and adventurer Robert Bruce, who was a British Army Major. The first packaged Assam tea was made available for purchase in England.
Does Assam Tea Have Caffeine?
Assam tea contains caffeine but not in large doses like coffee. Caffeine levels in Assam tea keep you alert throughout the day without adverse effects such as insomnia, anxiety, or increased heartbeat, which makes it a favorite breakfast beverage among tea drinkers. If you are worried about high caffeine doses, limit Assam tea intake to mornings and early afternoons to enable you to sleep better.
How to Brew Assam Black Tea
If you like your tea black, here is how we make a delicious cup of Assam black tea:
- Boil water depending on the number of Assam teacups to prepare.
- When the water boils, move the pot from the stove, turn the heat off and pour in the loose Assam tea leaves. The hotter the water, the faster the Assam tea leaves will infuse.
- Use one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup.
- Cover the pot and leave the contents to steep. The suggested steeping duration is 3-5 minutes.
- Strain the tea into a cup.
- Sweeten Assam tea with sugar, honey, or any other preferred sweetener.
How Do You Drink Assam Tea?
You can also try iced Assam tea. To make iced Assam black tea, follow this procedure, then let the tea cool to room temperature before chilling it in the refrigerator. Iced tea makes a great beverage on those hot summer afternoons.
How to Make Assam Tea with Milk
If you prefer your Assam tea with milk, here is the process
- Pour some hot water into a pot and bring to a boil.
- Pour in the milk but not too much that it dilutes the tea's flavor and color.
- Add the tea leaves. depending on the number of cups to prepare. and bring it to a boil.
- Turn off the stove, then allow the tea to steep for about 5 minutes.
- Strain, then add a sweetener, but you can take it without a sweetener if you wish because milk makes it sweeter.
- What pairs well with tea for dessert? That's the next step!
What are the Benefits of Assam Tea?
Assam tea, like other brands of tea, has many benefits for your mind and body. It’s a great pick me up tea in the morning that provides an energy boost and other potential positive influences based on its antioxidant properties. Try Assam tea today to see how it makes you feel!
What is Assam CTC Tea?
Assam CTC tea is a type of Assam tea produced by Tea India, a company with a rich Assam tea heritage that dates back to the 1940s. The company's master blender and president grew up in Assam and understands what it takes to make a great-tasting Assam tea product.
Assam CTC tea goes through a careful production process to protect the original Assam tea flavor and aroma. A group of experts oversee the production process and ensure the use of highly specialized equipment and techniques. As you will realize, Assam CTC tea is different, exceptionally rich in flavor and highly satisfying. The production process involves:
- Highly specialized sourcing
- Blending
- A packaging process that meets the set processing and food safety standards
Try Tea India Assam Tea Today
There are plenty of great products available with Tea India, whether you are looking for a premium Cardamom Chai Tea or our original loose tea for use in a tea strainer or tea infuser to make an authentic cup of chai. Whatever your preference, make sure you check out our whole range of products to fill your pantry with tea today! Discover chai today and find Tea India near you!