This Assam is a little different than I’m used to. It has a great red color and is thick, full, malty and smooth. But aromatically it doesn’t really have the sweet, broad and mild fruitiness that I associate with most good Assams; flavorwise it seems drier, much more leathery or even almost earthy and not so crisp, brisk and lively. The dry leaves smell weirdly chemical, like gasoline or paint. It’s not my personal favorite.