Tea: Saimo Assam Spring Organic Artisanal Black
An Assam from TEAORB - Organic
Brand: | TEAORB |
Style: | Assam |
Region: | Tinsukia, Assam, India |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Loose? | Loose |
# Ratings: | 2 View All |
Product page: | Saimo Assam Spring Organic Artisanal Black |
Reviewer: Alex Zorach
✓ 1452 teas reviewed
✓ 71 of Assam
✓ 500 of Black Tea
✓ 23 of TEAORB
✓ 9 from Tinsukia, Assam, India
✓ 91 from Assam, India
Review of Saimo Assam Spring Organic Artisanal Black
November 27th, 2017
Aroma | Flavor | Value | Total |
7 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 84 of 100 |
Very Good | Good | Good Value |
A soft tea that was less interesting than most of the other black teas TEAORB has sent me, but still very pleasant to drink. Reminds me a lot of hot chocolate; something I'd drink later in the afternoon.
The dry leaf of this tea is very dark, thick, and wiry, and noticeably more broken than many of the other large-leaf artisan teas TEAORB provided as samples. Aroma is a little less strong than some of these other Assam black teas, and is mostly of dried fruit with a hint of autumn leaves and a toasty quality. It reminds me a little of some Ceylon OPA teas. There's a faint hint of smoke and the over-ripe, fermenting fruit notes that were in the Zaroni Assam.
I was a little wary trying this one: TEAORB describes it as "astringent" and some of their green teas have been overwhelmingly so.
The tea was soft, and astringent, but not too much so. I actually found the astringency pleasing. Aroma is mild and nondescript, a lot like the aroma of the dry leaf, mostly a mild aroma of dried fruit, with very faint notes of fermenting or overripe fruit, a few undertones of cocoa or sweet hot chocolate. That's about it. TEAORB describes this as smelling like "fresh cream"; it's strange, I would never think of using that descriptor, but once I think about it, I can see the connection.
I enjoyed drinking this but it wasn't very interesting. Resteeped well, and the second cup was very similar to the first. It doesn't seem very caffeinated and I found it had a relaxing effect; a good afternoon tea, something I could drink later than most black teas. The price seems decent, especially given how well it resteeps.