Halmari Gold Assam Second Flush Black Tea

How is it that I haven’t made a note for this one that has been hoarded in my cupboard and now is almost sipped down. This package is 5 yrs old and seems to have taken on a harshness when it cools now. When it was in its prime this Assam rivaled my favorite golden monkey for its smooth malty and nutty notes. On this cup, its quite pleasant awesome tea with a coppery ting to the aftertaste. I would buy this again and sip it down in short order, though I have trouble finding other teas I like from Vahdam these days.

There are black teas that are nice to wake up to on any given morning that go along with just about whatever you are eating. This is one of those teas but on a higher level. English, Irish, and Scottish breakfast are all great for morning (or if you are a Brit whenever) cuppas. They all have good briskness as does this one. This one has a bit of astringency as well. So what is the higher level you ask? The aroma. When the initial steam lifted from the leaves after being hit with the first dose of water my nose was overcome with rose and woody notes. Like walking in a rose garden with freshly laid woodchips.

Very smooth and pleasant tea to drink. It has a distinct taste of honey througout. It also has the malty Assam flavour in the back of the pallette, but the honey is more pronounced. When sipping, the tea gives you a small kick of bitterness, but this is quickly overpowered by its sweetness. Very nice tea. The Daily Assam is very close in flavour however, and that one is a factor 3 cheaper.

My tea was the second flush picked in june 2017.

For the 2017 harvest: Smooth, luxurious, pleasantly complex (not the sometimes harsh one-note flavor profile of many Assams), very distinctive honey note.