Advent Day #8

Tea #8 - “Assam TGFOP”

I am guessing you, like me, are wondering “what in the world does TGFOP mean?” Yes, that was my first curiosity, so here it is: tippy golden flowery orange pekoe. “Tippy”, really? Yes, really. I love this descriptive word which refers to the young leaf buds or “tips” which are golden and contribute to a more delicate flavor. It is important to note this tea is made from the whole leaf as not all are, and that is, indeed, part of the Indian tea grading system. As you may remember, we previously visited Assam when I reviewed the Royal Blend on day one, but for the sake of thoroughness, let’s review. Assam is a heftier black tea from the northeastern corner of India that was first discovered in 1823. One of the reasons it is believed this tea has such appeal is related to its growing conditions which include the rich soil in the area and the monsoon rains. I loved the way it appeared in the tea bag, and I found it brewed dark very quickly in the cup with an orange hue befitting of its orange pekoe roots. Although it is recommended to drink this tea with milk, I was unable to do so, but regardless, it was delicious! I like a strong tea, and this one had a smoky smell and taste I found delightful! This was a stark contrast to the last tea I reviewed which was a more delicate green tea, but this is more what people think of when they think of tea in my humble opinion. I would love to sip this tea again soon! 8/10