Known for their body, briskness and their strong malty flavour, Assam black tea loose leaf have deservedly earned their reputation as the king of breakfast teas. An early morning cup of Assam tea with milk is a sure-fire way to begin your day on a positive and uplifting note. Known principally for their exceptional black teas, the lowland Assam region of India has a uniquely humid and tropical climate, ideal for tea growing. To showcase the best Assam teas we have curated an Assam collection which includes teas from both the first and second flush of picking.

The state of Assam is the world's largest tea-growing region by production, lying on either side of the Brahmaputra river, and bordering Butan, Bangadlesh, Mynmar and very close to China. This part of India experiences high rainfall; during the monsoon period, as much as 250 to 300 mm (10 to 12 in) of rain falls per day. The daytime temperature rises to about 36 °C (96.8 °F), creating greenhouse-like conditions of extreme humidity and heat. This tropical climate contributes to Assam tea's unique malty taste, a feature for which this tea is well known.

For teas referred to as ‘tippy’ (referring to the beautiful gold tips which appear on the leaves) we suggest choosing from our second flush Assam teas, which are harvested later in the year and are prized for their sweet, bold, full-bodied and malty flavour.

For a rich and full-flavoured Assam tea with a classically malty character you can’t go wrong with our ever-popular Assam Mangalam. Or for a sweeter, more honeyed cup you will love our organic Assam tea from the renowned Hathikuli Estate. Other favourites are Honest everyday Assam (great value), Assam teas from the Tonganagaon and Orangajuli estates. We have one of the largest assam tea collections in the country. The celebrated spicy, malty tea flavour can also be enjoyed to its full without milk as an Assam black tea. Our collection also includes a decaf Assam tea which we have been very careful to ensure retains all the delicious strength and maltiness of the best caffeinated Assams!

Caffeine in Assam tea?

Yes, Assam tea contains caffeine, and the amount can vary depending on how it's brewed. The caffeine content of Assam tea can vary depending on the brewing time and temperature, the type of tea used (loose-leaf or tea bags), and whether hotter water is used. An 8-ounce cup of Assam tea typically contains 50–90 milligrams of caffeine. This is similar to the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee, which is usually around 100–150 milligrams. Assam tea has a higher caffeine content than other types of tea, such as green tea or white tea. Assam tea is made from the Camellia sinensis var. assamica tea plant, which has larger leaves than other tea plants, making it easier to extract caffeine.

Tea Bags

For those who aren’t yet ready to make the leap from trusty tea bags to loose-leaf teas, we offer some of our bestselling loose-leaf teas Assam tea in pyramid bags. However, these are tea bags with a difference! Pyramid bags allow the fragrant tea to move around more freely in the water. They also give the tea more space, meaning the delicate leaves aren’t crushed into a dusty, tasteless powder! Try some out for a richer, scrumptious and special brew, compared to boring normal tea bags.