Assam Tea Company

This tea is alright, but let me down in the “malt” department. I was hoping for a tea that would brew up with a very malty taste and a darker color, but was a bit disappointed.

Not a bad tea, but maybe my expectations were too high

Assam Silver Needle (white tea – bud tip only)
Dry: soft subtle floral hints, like a cross between early spring daisy and chrysanthemum
Wet: ocean salt, mineral
Appearance: beautiful long ghostly white, silvery needles covered in subtle down. Transforms into rust streaked Asian pear-green, deeply veined buds that slowly ‘rain’
Cup: 1st extraction has a pearl colored hue and luster with faints hints of yellow at its edges. The cup is graced with a light, elusive floral flavor that is balanced against the flavor of fresh, sweet green beans. The cup is clean and smooth, light bodied and with a rear throat tickle that hints at astringency but never manifests. The cup is refreshing and lingers longer than expected and presents further flavors that are not unlike honey comb. 2nd extraction is deeply yellow, nearly sporting copper hints against the edges of the cup. Spicy, vegetal flavors increase and a mild tannin note paints the back of the throat, body increases and favors become predominately front notes with a side tongue muted spice resembling white pepper. Bears some similarity to the Ceylon Silver tip that I have had in the past, but more subtle.
Brewing Method: Traditional cupping set using 2grams of tea in 6 oz of 185 degree water and allowing initial steep to go 4 minutes to generate strong flavor intensity…following steeps were with 200 degree water and 4 plus minute steep times.

I enjoy the subtle flavors of finely crafted White teas, particularly bud only selections. I ordered this out of curiosity and found that the company is passionate and enthusiastic about tea and in particular Assam, in a way that I had yet to experience. I highly recommend them to any tea lover who appreciates passion, quality, and uniqueness in their tea and in the people who sell it.