Assam Hunwal 2nd Flush TGFOP1 Loose Leaf Black Tea

🍵 The Estate — A single-garden Assam from Hunwal in Jorhat, grown at a remarkable 1,000 metres above sea level — unusually high for the region, and central to what makes this tea stand apart

🍵 The Colour — Brews to a deep, glowing orange-red liquor with real depth and clarity, the kind of cup that looks as good as it tastes

🍵 The Character — Bold and satisfying, with a full malty body, a spicy edge, and a distinctive lingering finish that speaks to Hunwal's cooler, slower-growing terroir

🍵 The Occasion — An excellent breakfast tea that holds its own with milk, though those who prefer black tea will find it equally rewarding without

The Hunwal Estate sits in the Jorhat district of Assam, south of the mighty Brahmaputra River, at an altitude of up to 1,000 metres above sea level. For a region where most gardens sit at or near sea level, this elevation is genuinely rare. The cooler temperatures it brings slow the growth of the tea plants considerably, and that patience in the leaf translates directly into the cup — a richer, more complex character than many Assams can offer.

This is a second flush tea, harvested between May and June when Assam is widely regarded as being at its finest. The second flush is the season that serious Assam drinkers wait for: the leaf is at its peak quality, the golden tips are plentiful, and the flavour carries a depth and body that the lighter spring pickings cannot match. TGFOP1 grade — Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe — means the leaf is carefully selected from the top bud and first two leaves of each new shoot, with a high proportion of those prized golden tips that are the hallmark of exceptional Assam.

Brewed, it produces a deep orange-red liquor with a satisfying, full-bodied character. The flavour is malty and bold with a gently spicy quality and a finish that lingers agreeably — a combination that many find more interesting than a standard Assam breakfast blend. It takes milk beautifully, building into a rich, hearty cup, but is equally worth trying without: drunk black, the spice notes and the distinctive terroir of Hunwal come through with more clarity.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists. With over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections in the country — we have always looked beyond the obvious for teas with a genuine story to tell. Assam Hunwal is one of those teas.

Ingredients: Black tea.

Brewing Note: Use one heaped teaspoon per cup and pour freshly boiled water directly over the leaf. Steep for 3 to 4 minutes for a bright, lively cup, or up to 5 minutes if you prefer more strength and depth. This tea is a natural with milk — add it after steeping to judge the colour and adjust to taste. If you are drinking it black, consider a slightly shorter steep of around 3 minutes to keep the finish clean and the spice notes well-defined. A pre-warmed pot or cup makes a noticeable difference with a tea of this body.