Assam TGFOP1 Ananda Second Flush
 |
|
Commercial Description
'Ananda' translates to 'bliss'--a state of mind that this charming blend of Assam teas delivers to each drinker. The early summer harvest offers a rich and malty mahogany cup of classic character.
Brewing Instructions: (from TeaGschwendner)
One heaping teaspoon per 8oz cup filtered, boiling water. Allow to brew 3 minutes.
Ratings & Reviews
Page 1 of 1 page with 2 reviews
80 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5Heather Z. (85 reviews) on Apr. 2nd, 2021
This tea is a classic tasting black tea however it is not my favorite and it is mildly harsh (bitter) for me. It's still pretty smooth and not astringent which I like and I would drink it again if someone served it to me. It's a bit expensive though so I probably wouldn't buy it again since there's better stuff out there for cheaper!
83 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5Alex Zorach (1453 reviews) on Apr. 2nd, 2021
This tea is named somewhat differently in the US vs Europe but I'm pretty sure it's the same. In Germany it's "Assam TGFOP1 Ananda" with "Second Flush" underneath, whereas in the US the grade is omitted in the name, but clarified in the tea's description so I'm pretty sure it's the same thing.
The dry leaf is pleasantly aromatic, malty, fruity, and spicy. It's hard to tell from the smell of the leaf whether this is going to be smooth or harsh.
When I brew it, it comes up about what I might expect, what I would think of as a very typical Assam. Its aroma is a lot like the dried leaf, but a bit more complex. There are some fresher, lighter notes in there as well that leads the cup to have a clean, cooling finish. There is a slight harshness, but nothing unpleasant when I'm looking for a robust, strong black tea. Overall it is hearty and rich and the sort of thing that really hits the spot on a cold winter day.
Resteeps well, better than most broken-leaf Assams, but, predictably, not as well as the whole-leaf Chinese teas from the Assamica cultivar that I've been favoring more recently, or some large-leaf Assam teas I got my hands on through TeaOrb a couple years back.
It is hard for me to comment on TeeGschwendner's prices because they're so wildly different in the US vs. the EU. I don't know why but the teas cost well over twice as much in the US, something that sours me on the brand. I buy them whenever I visit Europe and I often have people bring them back for me, but I would never buy them here in the US.
100 grams costs 6,80 euro, but $16.79. Now let's do the math, the current exchange rate is 1.18 dollars to 1 euro. That means I would expect this to cost only about $8.00 for 100 grams. Instead, it's well over twice that. What gives? I don't know, but it really doesn't sit well with me, especially since this price differential straddles the boundary at which I think this tea would offer good value.
Based on this tea's quality, I think it's a good buy at $8 for 100 grams. I'd easily give it 4-5 stars. But it's selling for over twice that, and at that price I would give it 2 stars. So I'm averaging these and giving it 3 for value. Really, TeeGschwendner. Can you please address these price disparities? Your prices here in the U.S. are absurd.
Page 1 of 1 page with 2 reviews
More Assam from Assam, India from TeaGschwendner
Assam SFTGBOP Tonga Second Flush
| Style: | Assam |
| Region: | Assam, India |
| Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
| Leaf: | Loose |
2 Ratings
Assam Mokalbari Second Flush
| Style: | Assam |
| Region: | Dibrugarh, Assam, India |
| Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
| Leaf: | Loose |
1 Rating
Assam Boisahabi Malty Second Flush
| Style: | Assam |
| Region: | Jorhat, Assam, India |
| Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
| Leaf: | Loose |
1 Rating
