This is one of the free samples that I got from Teabox with my “All the Darjeelings” sample boxes. This Assam has a lot of golden tips, but the ‘“broken” in the FTGBOP clonal grade is justified. The dry leaves smell fruity, but also dusky – hinting at their strength.
It is a highly caffinated tea, as Assam tend to be, but it lacks the trully deep, bass-y aroma of an excellent Assam. It reminds me of a strengthened fruity Ceylon, coupled with Ceylon’s astringncy and flavor profile. Not much malt in this tea, plenty of stone fruit.
Tasty, but not mind blowing.