Assam Tea Heritage TGFOP1 50g

Assam Tea Heritage TGFOP1 50g comes from the Heritage Tea Estate, which is in the Dibrugarh district of Assam, India. This Tea boasts traditional 'Assamese' characteristics, with a refined maltiness and sweet undertones. We are as equally proud to stock it as we are to work so closely with the prestigious Heritage Tea Estate.

What Does "TGFOP1" Mean?

The term "TGFOP" stands for "Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe". This refers to a Tea with a high content of golden tips. The term "Flowery Orange Pekoe", in particular, denotes Tea made from the top bud and the first two leaves of each new shoot.

The Heritage Tea Estate

This estate, run by the Baruah family since 2011, finds itself in the Patkai hills of Assam at approximately 3,000 feet above sea level. A sizable proportion of the land used for Tea-growing is virgin and extremely fertile. Combine these qualities with the near-perfect climate, and it's easy to see how The Heritage Estate makes exceptional-tasting Assam Tea.

The History of Tea in India

The potential for an Indian Tea Industry came about through a Scottish explorer named Robert Bruce. He travelled to Rangpur (present-day Sibsagar) in Upper Assam to meet Bessa Gaum, the chief of the Singpho, one of the principal indigenous tribes of the Indian north-east.

Bruce intended to gain a better understanding of the native plants of the region. In turn, Bessa Guam presented him with leaves from a plant resembling that of Camellia sinensis var sinensis. Bruce knew that, if proven to be a relative of the Chinese Tea plant, then Britain could kickstart a Tea Industry in India with great ease.

Robert went on to clarify his findings with his brother, Charles Alexander Bruce, who studied the leaves at the Calcutta Botanical Gardens. He indeed confirmed that the plant given to Robert Bruce was a variety of the Tea plant, later dubbed Camellia sinensis var assamica.

Sadly, Robert Bruce never fully saw the fruits of his labour after dying in 1824. His legacy, however, lived on. It eventually gave rise to a flourishing industry, which in turn offered new opportunities to the people of India. The Heritage Tea Estate, and this very Tea, are the product of Bruce's success some 200 years ago.

Additional Information 

Type of Tea: Black Tea.

Origin: The Heritage Tea Estate, Assam, India.

Brewing Instructions: Brew using freshly boiled water. Infuse for 3 to 5 minutes.

How to Serve: We recommend serving this Tea without any accompaniments. Some, however, choose to add milk, sugar, honey or lemon.

Tasting Notes: This Tea has potent malty overtones and subtle yet luxurious sweet undertones.

Colour in Cup: Coppery liquor, light in tone.

Health Benefits

Assam Tea Heritage TGFOP1 50g can improve oral health. This is similar to almost all types of Black Tea! But how, exactly? The answers come from a collaborative study conducted in conjunction with the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa and the Institute of Odontology at Göteborg University in Sweden.

Participants in the US division used Black Tea to rinse their mouth with for 30 seconds, five times, waiting three minutes between each rinse to simulate the effect of sipping Tea. Meanwhile, the Swedish division saw participants rinse their mouth with Black Tea for one minute, ten times a day. Both co-operating studies noted that the more participants rinsed, the more their plaque and bacteria levels fell.

This is because of the polyphenolic compounds present in all types of Black Tea. These antioxidants can kill or suppress cavity-causing bacteria from either growing or producing acid. Furthermore, the Tea also affects the bacterial enzymes while preventing them from forming the sticky-like material that binds plaque to teeth.