Tea is the beverage that is consumed the most often all around the world. Many people now like it first thing in the morning because of its powerful and delectable flavor. The Brits were the ones who first brought tea to the Subcontinent, but ever since then, the locals have been growing the plant themselves and making their very own delectable tea-based drinks. The Brits have a soft place for builder's tea, but here we are, tea enthusiasts of all hues, and today we will be talking about the difference between Assam Tea and Darjeeling Tea.
The states of Assam vs. Darjeeling are located in the Northeastern region. The name of a particular kind of tea alludes to its place of origin. While the tea-growing regions of Assam and Darjeeling are located very near one another geographically, the teas produced in these two locales could not be more similar in aroma, color, and flavor.
Region
Darjeeling is in the Himalayan foothills, whereas Assam is in the plains of northeast Bengal. The weather in Assam is a lot like the rest of Southeast Asia. Rainfall is plentiful all year long, making the best fertile soil, and temperatures are often high.
The Brahmaputra River valley makes the soil of Assam very clay-like. Assamica is grown on 800 separate tea farms in Assam.
Assam is the best place in the world to grow tea due to its ideal climate. Because of this, Assam is where most of India's tea is grown.
But, Darjeeling's cooler environment and harsher weather put a damper on tea output. Produced in the arid slopes of the Kanchenjunga Alps. Darjeeling Tea is in high demand worldwide and is grown on over 80 separate tea plantations.
Flavor
Although Darjeeling tea has a very mild greenish hue, Assam tea is dark brown. Due to its robust flavor and nutty aroma, milk and sugar are suggested additions while drinking Assam tea. As the environment in Darjeeling imparts a robust and spicy flavor to the tea, it is best enjoyed black, without the addition of milk or sugar.
The Darjeeling tea is considered the "champagne of teas" because of its exceptional flavor, described as "delicate muscatel" by the Tea Board of India.
Periods of Harvest
The first and second flush seasons are the harvest times in Assam, but there are four harvest times in Darjeeling. Four distinct planting seasons are distinguished by their names:
The first flush of Assam teas occurs in March, with a bright floral flavor and a golden hue. Starting in May, Assam's second flush produces teas that are bolder in flavor and more heavily spiced, with deeper brown to black tones. Because of the golden tips on the leaves, second-flush teas are often referred to as Tippy Tea.
The first flush in Darjeeling occurs in March and April, and the teas produced then are known for their light and floral flavor. In May and June, when the second flush of Darjeeling tea is harvested, the leaves take on a more mature look and take on notes of fruit and muscatel.
Availability
Assam's year-round rainfall makes it ideal for tea cultivation. Not only that, but Assam covers a larger area than Darjeeling does. That's why there's an increase in tea harvesting as a result. Yet, Darjeeling's shorter land area and cooler temperature produce less tea harvested yearly. Assam is often less expensive than
Darjeeling because it is widely accessible. Because of their superior flavor and craftsmanship, the teas sold at the Camden Tea Store are among the best on the market.
Sorting Tea Leaves
Drying the teas causes them to change significantly in size and form from their original state. To facilitate brewing, sorting them out depending on their appearance is necessary. The quality of a tea may be designated by its grade, which might be one of the following:
OP (also known as Orange Pekoe) is the lowest possible quality rating for black Teas.
FOP, or Flowery Orange Pekoe, is a classification for the bigger tea leaves from the freshest tea plants.
Golden Flowery Pekoe (GFOP) is the tea bud's golden tip.
A tea with a high concentration of golden tips is known as TGFOP (or "Tippy Golden Flower Orange Pekoe").
Teas of the highest quality are awarded the designation "Finest Tippy Golden Orange Pekoe," or FTGFOP.
When tea is labeled "Special Finest Tippy Golden Orange Pekoe," it means it is of the highest quality and very unusual.
Conclusion
You can't go wrong with either Assam Darjeeling Tea. Assam tea is popular among those who want a robust and nutty flavor, whereas fans favor Darjeeling for a more peppery sip.
