Extensive Range
Choose from our huge range of loose leaf teas, carefully selected from around the world
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Freshly Packed to Order
Our teas are carefully packed to order to preserve aroma, freshness, and flavour
This large leaf, second flush tea produces a delightful amber brew that reveals bold, full flavours. Perfect when prepared with milk and sugar, Assam Leaf makes for a delicious tea that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Ingredients
Black Indian Tea
Allergens
While we try to keep to the strictest standards in our treatment of allergens, please be aware that our factory handles nuts, milk and soy ingredients. Please check our ingredients lists for specific information on each tea.
Your Guide to Assam Tea
Sourced from the state of Assam in India, the world’s largest tea-growing region, Assam black tea is a full-bodied, strong, malty tea that frequently forms the base of breakfast teas.
The growing region is located along the Brahmaputra Valley River in Northern India, close to Myanmar and Bangladesh, where water is carried down from the Himalayas.
Assam tea leaves are grown from the Camellia sinensis plant, which benefits from the region’s ideal growing conditions: high levels of rainfall, and daytime temperatures that can rise to around 36 °C, creating the heat and humidity that allows the Camellia sinensis plant to flourish.
This climate, typical of the Assam region, gives the best Assam teas their characteristic maltiness and strong, bold flavours.
Sections
- The History of Assam Tea
- How Assam Tea is Produced
- Types of Assam Tea
- Reviews of Assam Tea
- FAQs
The History of Assam Tea
The introduction of Assam tea in Europe can be traced to Scottish gentleman and adventurer Robert Bruce, who is said to have first encountered the tea leaf in 1823 while trading in the Assam region. With the help of Maniram Dewan, an Assamese nobleman living at the time in British India, Bruce made contact with the local Singpho chief, Bessa Gam, and thereafter arranged for Gam and other local chiefs to provide him with leaf and seed samples of Assam tea. These samples were to be scientifically examined, but unfortunately Robert Bruce did not live to see the results, dying shortly after in 1824. It was Robert’s brother, Charles, who picked up the Assam tea endeavour, and the seed and leaf samples made their way to the botanical gardens in Calcutta, where it was identified for certain as a black tea variety.
Through the work of Charles Bruce and the British East India Company's Tea Committee, cultivated Assam tea was first shipped to London in 1838. In the following years, several companies were incorporated into the endeavour, eventually forming the Assam Tea Company.
The Assam Tea Company was started in 1839 and dominated the production of Assam tea throughout the 1840s and 1850s.
How Assam Tea is Produced
Assam loose leaf tea is usually harvested twice each year, during the ‘first flush’ and ‘second flushes’ of the season. The first flush starts at the end of March and continues until the end of May, and produces the more tender, lighter leaves, while the second flush takes place around June and results in sweeter, more full-bodied teas.
The climate of the Assam region contributes greatly to the tea’s depth of flavour and higher caffeine content. High rainfall and warm temperatures create a tropical climate of ideal humidity and heat. The resulting depth of flavour, malty taste and caffeine content of Assam tea means that it has become a traditional base for many breakfast teas.
Types of Assam Tea
Loose Assam tea varies in flavour and appearance, with varieties made from a range of tea grades, from Broken Orange Pekoe to high-grade golden flowery pekoe leaves.
- Assam Leaf Tea: Produces an amber brew with bold, full flavours. Ideal with milk and sugar.
- Assam BOP Tea: Strong, malty and bright. Common in breakfast blends.
- Assam PF Tea: Rich, mature flavours with added body. Ideal for mornings.
- Assam Silver Needle White Tea: Light, delicate tea with honey, malt and floral notes.
- Tarajuli FBOP Assam Tea: Strong, aromatic tea with a bright coppery colour.
- Bukhial TGFOP Assam Tea: Luxury tea with rich malty notes and a smooth finish.
- Borengajuli FBOP Assam Tea: Complex, well-rounded tea with strong malty characteristics.
Reviews of Assam Tea
Below is a selection of comments from customers who have enjoyed some of our Assam varieties:
“Best cup of Assam I've ever tried. Lots of layers of flavour, really tasty.”
“This tea brand is far superior in quality to normal shop-bought tea. It has a deep and pleasant malty taste.”
“Excellent taste, colour, and bouquet. A refreshing brew that I drink when I need a boost.”
“A treat, love this tea.”
“This is a proper Assam tiny leaf instant brew excellent flavour.”
“Love this Assam, it's rich and full-bodied.”
“Exactly what I was expecting. Packs a punch. Great morning brew.”
FAQs
What does Assam tea taste like?
Assam black teas are strong and full-bodied, with malty flavours and complex notes. They can range from earthy and woody to sweet and spicy, sometimes with hints of cocoa or caramel. These bold flavours make Assam teas ideal for breakfast blends.
How should I prepare Assam loose leaf tea?
Use freshly boiled water and one teaspoon of tea per 200ml. Steep at 90–95°C for four to five minutes. Avoid over-steeping to prevent bitterness. Assam tea can be enjoyed black or with milk and sugar.
Where can I buy the best Assam tea?
You can find a wide range of high-quality Assam loose leaf teas online, offering excellent flavour, strength and freshness.
We deliver across the UK and to selected EU countries using Royal Mail and DPD. Available delivery options and charges are shown at checkout. Our standard delivery service takes 1–3 working days.
Some third-party supplied products may have different delivery times and costs, which will be clearly shown at checkout.
Some equipment may be shipped directly from the manufacturer. Where this applies, full delivery details will be provided at checkout.
All of our teas remain fresh unopened for up to 12 months.