Assam Hattiali-T.G.F.O.P. Second Flush

Well, hello there…crawling out from under my rock to catch up on your December blizzard of tasting notes! While you were sipping, I was sniffling and sneezing and snarfing—my turn to catch the non-lethal Christmas Cruds going around in these parts.

After finally breaking down and begging Teladoc for some antibiotic, this afternoon I felt up to tasting something that wasn’t Gatorade or a Popsicle, but as my taste buds aren’t quite up to par yet, I used the last of this sample (double the leaf) to make a strong, medicinal cup.

I complained in an earlier review that this Assam was toasty, but too mild. Now I know it’s just a ratio thing—stronger is better. Good, grainy rye bread flavor that I could detect even with my impaired palate.

For Channukah my sister got me two Palais des Thes samplers – one with straight teas and another with flavoured teas. I likely wouldn’t have got either for myself but now that I have them, I’m intrigued. Over the years, I’ve grown to really like straight blacks but I don’t usually buy them unless a store specifically focuses on straight teas. In my mind, Palais des Thes does flavoured stuff so I wouldn’t have thought to explore their blacks. Now I have a few to try though so that’s fun.

This tea is middle of the road for me. It’s smooth with the tiniest twang at times, but not astringent. It’s a little bready. It’s robust. And there is a muscatel/floral element, which I think is what’s reading metallic/coppery to me. It’s fine but like I said, middle of the road.

I purchased mine from TeaGschwendner.
A good standard Assam, medium-full bodied, very easy to drink. Reminds me of milk chocolate, dried figs and raisins, hay. I prefer a bigger Assam for the morning, this would be a good post-lunch tea.