Review: TeaGschwendner’s Assam Numalighur Tea

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The Subject: Assam Numalighur from TeaGschwendner.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212˚ F

Steeping time: 4 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Malty, mild
Aroma in the cup, plain: Robust, enticing
Taste, plain: Malty, strong, bitter
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Malty
Taste, enhanced: Smooth, no bitterness

2nd Infusion: Lighter flavor and aroma

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
This is another tea we bought during our first visit to the TeaGschwendner store in Raleigh, NC. This tea is another reason that the drive was well worth it.

As with the first of their teas we reviewed, we stayed true to the tea principles of the Little Yellow Teapot and followed the vendor’s label directions when preparing the hot version of this tea:

3g tea (1 heaping teaspoon) per 8oz. cup of filtered, boiling water. Allow to brew 4 min.

The dry tea has a mild and somewhat malty aroma, typical for CTC Assams.

The 1st infusion was a rich red-brown color with a wonderful aroma that we have come to associate with this type of tea. The flavor was quite strong and bitter, with real “pucker power,” making this tea just right for adding milk and sweetener. In fact, when thusly enhanced, this tea is smooth, robust, and very satisfying.

The 2nd infusion was lighter in color, aroma, and taste. The bitterness is gone, yet it’s still flavorful. You could easily drink it straight or add just a touch of milk and sweetener.

The label directions, in our estimation, are a bit off. You can probably get a couple of fairly equal infusions if you shorten the steep time for the 1st infusion to 3 minutes and stick with 4 minutes for the 2nd infusion. They will probably still be strong enough to take some milk but light enough to be enjoyed straight.

Our congratulations to Ryan Hinson, Store Manager, and his staff on an excellent tea.

Disclaimer: We purchased this tea from the company named during our first visit to the store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.