India is known for producing world’s finest beverage. Around 4% of India’s national income comes from its beverage market. There are three chief tea producing regions in this country of which Assam and Darjeeling are the most popular ones. Assam tea blends are famous as English Breakfast Tea as the black blends from Assam are ideal beverage for breakfast.
Now, both these regions are known across the globe for producing high quality black teas produced from the same plant. But, the does the blends of these two regions are of the same flavor? No, they are not. Tea produced in one season or flush differs from the blends produced in another season. Quite naturally, teas of two gardens and regions will also be very much different.
Let’s find out how Assam and Darjeeling teas are different…
As you know Darjeeling is in the foothills of the Himalayas and so, its altitude plays a significant role in structure and flavor of
Darjeeling tea blends. it is because of its location that beverages from this region has muscatel wine flavor. On the other hand, Assam is in the lowlands and the rich clayey soil of this region gives its blend the full-bodied malty flavor.
Second flush Darjeeling tea leaves have a purplish bloom and obtain mild greenish liquor when brewed. This second flush blends are perfect for having a delicious cup of green tea.
Assam tea leaves are dark in color and also obtain rich amber color liquor which is perfect as English Breakfast Tea.
Darjeeling tea tastes best without sugar and milk while Assam brews get perfect taste with sugar and milk. Darjeeling brews are also a little spicier than Assam brews. Leaves of second flush have less astringency and the liquor so obtained has a distinct muscatel fruity flavor. That is why they are referred to as “Champagne of Teas”. English Breakfast teas, on the contrary, are strong and have earthy nutty taste.
Here is a great difference between the beverages of the two regions. The Breakfast Tea is produced all throughout the year and hence, this brand is available any time and its price is also affordable as compared to second flush blends. as the name suggests, Darjeeling Second Flush is available at a specific time of the year and therefore, their price is also pretty high.
So, these are a few distinguishing features of the
tea beverages produced in these two regions.
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