Where does Assam come from?
- Origin
- India
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis
- Processing
- Fully oxidized; orthodox or CTC
Black collection
Assam
Camellia sinensis · India
What is Assam?
Assam is a black profile associated here with India. It is made from Camellia sinensis and processed as fully oxidized; orthodox or ctc. Expect descriptors such as malt, raisin, brisk tannin; flavor varies with harvest, storage, water, dose, and technique.
Caffeine context
Does Assam contain caffeine?
Often moderate to high in breakfast-style recipes; serving and steep matter.
People, place and practice
What is the history and tradition of Assam?
Tea is more than leaf chemistry. This cultural overview separates documented history from legends and shows how the drink fits into daily life.
Roots and story
Assam’s commercial tea industry expanded under British colonial rule using local tea plants and plantation labor, alongside much older Indigenous knowledge of tea in the region.
Where is it enjoyed?
How is Assam traditionally served?
Its strength suits breakfast blends and milk tea. In India it is also used in chai preparations simmered with milk, sugar, and spices, although recipes vary by household and region.
Starting ranges
How do you brew Assam?
Start in the middle, then change one variable at a time to suit your tea and taste.
Western / mug style
| Water | 95–100°C (203–212°F) |
|---|---|
| Leaf | 2.5–3.5 g per 250 ml |
| Time | 3–5 min |
Gongfu style
| Water | 95–100°C (203–212°F) |
|---|---|
| Leaf | 4–6 g per 100 ml |
| First infusion | 20–40 sec |
| Infusions | 3–5 |
Evidence scope
What does research say about Assam?
Milk changes flavor and nutrition but does not neutralize caffeine.
Important limit: a source about a tea category, ingredient, or specific trial preparation does not prove a benefit for this named tea or your cup.
What should you know about safety?
Contains caffeine. Named tea styles do not have proven disease-treatment effects, and research on tea as a category cannot establish a result for this cup.
Traceable reading
Which sources support this profile?
- The effects of regular consumption of green or black tea beverage on blood pressure in those with elevated blood pressure or hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysisComplementary Therapies in Medicine (PubMed) · Five eligible trials in people with elevated blood pressure or hypertension; not proof for a named style or an individual result.
- Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?U.S. FDA · General caffeine guidance and variability; not individual medical advice.
- The effect of black tea on blood pressure: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPLOS ONE (PubMed) · Eleven short human interventions found a small average blood-pressure difference; preparation affected results and the analysis does not prove an effect for any named black tea.
Matched gear
Products for brewing Assam
Specific current products selected for this tea’s temperature, vessel, and measurement needs.
Best everyday value
Electric kettles
COSORI 1.7 L Glass Electric Kettle
The straightforward value pick when you mainly need fast boiling water, auto shutoff, and a wide opening for cleaning.
Best full-size variable temperature
Electric kettles
Cuisinart PerfecTemp CPK-17P1
A 1.7 L kettle with six presets and keep-warm control for households brewing several tea categories.
Best single-cup basket
Mug infusers
OXO Brew Tea Infuser Basket
Fine perforations, a spacious basket, and a lid that becomes a drip tray make it a strong daily mug brewer.
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