Tea: Assam - Itakhooli Estate
An Assam from Simpson & Vail
| Brand: | Simpson & Vail |
| Style: | Assam |
| Region: | Tinsukia, Assam, India |
| Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
| Loose? | Loose |
| # Ratings: | 2 View All |
| Product page: | Assam - Itakhooli Estate |
Reviewer: Alex Zorach
✓ 1453 teas reviewed
✓ 71 of Assam
✓ 501 of Black Tea
✓ 42 of Simpson & Vail
✓ 9 from Tinsukia, Assam, India
✓ 91 from Assam, India
Review of Assam - Itakhooli Estate
November 24th, 2022
| Aroma | Flavor | Value | Total |
| 8 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 79 of 100 |
| Excellent | Good | Outstanding |
This was a rather strong, but high-quality Assam sold for an exceptionally good price.
The dry leaf has a potent aroma, spicy and fruity. I already notice the raspberry notes even in the dry leaf. But the aroma somehow betrays a slight harshness: I can tell this is going to be a tea with a bit of an edge, even before I brew it.
The brewed cup is exactly what I expect from the aroma: bold, strong, sharp flavor, moderately tannic and also bitter, with an undertone of savory, sour, and slightly sweet flavors. Thick and satisfying, but can be a bit much, depending on the mood you're in. If you want one of those kick-you-in-the-face breakfast teas this would be a good candidate. One thing I liked about this though, with respect to flavor and mouthfeel, is that the harshness is more up-front, and the finish is smoother and sweeter, and the lingering sensations on the palate are pleasing.
The aroma of the brewed cup is fairly typical for an Assam, malty and fruity and slightly floral, but, just like the description, there are distinct notes of raspberry in there. I like it. I could see this tea pairing well with scones for this reason, creating somewhat of a "raspberry jam" vibe even with plain scones.
This tea resteeps fairly well and retains a similar character in the second steep. Interestingly though, I found that the first steep tasted better as it cooled, whereas the resteep was really only good when still hot, and tasted unpleasantly harsh and not as satisfying when it had cooled. I recommend going a bit easy on the leaf, if brewed too strongly this tea can get a little overwhelming. I don't drink tea with milk but this one might be a good candidate for adding milk to.
The price is very good.$8.80 for 4 ounces, you rarely see a tea of this grade and quality for this price. I highly recommend this. Yes, it's not my favorite Assam I ordered from S&V, but it's A LOT cheaper and still very enjoyable. If you're looking for a bargain buy this is a great option, especially if you like the stronger, bolder Assams.
