It could be said that nowhere else in the world of tea is there a more controversial region than Assam. Tea produced in Assam tends to be malty with floral notes and strong bodied, which is why it is the number one component in most teabag blends; a success and rightfully so. The flip side is, however, that the vast majority of the plantations are run by large corporations with their roots firmly in the British Empire (Brook Bond is perhaps the best known). In effect, these companies indenture the local Assam people’s labour and have very little regard for the environment. Like the Chai Walla’s of India, we use Assam extensively in our chai blends, and so it was very important to us that we find a tea garden which aligned with our values, humane working conditions and high quality without costing the planet. 

We feel very proud to be directly involved with Tonganagaon, which is not only an Organic and Fairtrade registered tea garden but it produces some of the best quality Assam we’ve tasted, malty, full bodied, almost caramel hints, and a pleasant floral nose. We also stock their high quality second flush Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe which reveals all the nuances that might be lost in a recipe grade equivalent.