I specifically sought this tea out because it was from a region of Assam that is a little higher-altitude, and from where I hadn't previously tried any teas. Interestingly, it did taste a little more like a Darjeeling and other high-grown Himalayan region teas. Although I thought it was a very good tea, I liked it less than typical Assams.

Dry leaf is dark and consists of tightly curled, short pieces of leaf, smells very fresh, a sort of bright smell that suggests a brisk tea, a little malty but with notes more characteristic of high-grown teas too, a hint of wintergreen and cinnamon as well.

The brewed cup is interesting; aromatically it's a lot like a Darjeeling, with a noticeably muscatel grape aroma and a hint of skunky notes, but the body and flavor is more like an assam: deep, full, and rich. The finish is a little more malty.

The overall experience is a bit like a cross between a typical Assam and a Darjeeling second- or autumnal-flush, I'd say closer to a Darjeeling though than to an Assam.

I wasn't crazy about how I felt after drinking this. It seems highly caffeinated, but it wasn't just this because I like a lot of strongly-caffeinated Assam teas. This one made me feel a bit agitated, a problem I often have with teas with this flavor profile, for some reasons I don't understand.

Resteeps very well. The resteep also tastes great; it's a shame I found this tea difficult to enjoy because of the undesirable effects it had on my mind and body.

This tea was incredibly cheap; unfortunately it has gone out of stock, but that's how Upton works.

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