A tea enthusiast might love both varieties equally, but many others debate about which variant is supreme.
Different teas in India are given different names marking the region they come from.
Tea in India is a part of everyday lifestyle or so it has become with time. Numerous varieties of teas emerge right from its land, making it one of the largest producers of tea. Tea production contributes about 4% of the national income and its population consumes over 85% of it. This data is striking, considering tea was introduced only a few decades ago by the British during colonization.
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Different teas in India are given different names marking the region they come from. While most of them are famous, specifically two have garnered worldwide recognition. And yes! you are right to think of the Assam tea and the Darjeeling tea in that regard.
A tea enthusiast might love both varieties equally, but many others debate about which variant is supreme. Today, we will provide a detailed explanation of both to help you determine which suits you best. Let’s start by knowing about both teas individually.
Assam Tea
Assam tea is black tea indigenous to Assam, India. It is specifically produced from the Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica plant and acquires its name from the state it is grown in namely Assam. The tea has a deliciously strong, malty flavour and a bright dark brown colour to compliment it. It might surprise you but, various ‘breakfast teas’ consist of Assam tea in their blend due to its full-bodied nature.
The state of Assam, though small in area, is the world’s largest tea-growing region by production. It is also the second-largest commercial tea producing region in the world. The tropical climate gives Assam tea its special malty flavour, the quality which brought it to fame worldwide. Apart from unique tasting black tea, the region also produces green and white teas with recognizable characteristics.
Caffeine Content
Being a pure tea produced out of the Camellia Sinensis plant, Assam tea has a considerable amount of caffeine in it. The exact amount varies according to the strength of the tea, determined by how long the leaves are steeped. But approximately 1 cup of Assam tea typically contains 60-112 mg of caffeine. Thus, if you are planning to stay away from the stimulant it’s best to avoid this tea.
Brewing Method
Knowing all these about Assam tea would be a waste if you can’t enjoy it yourself. Since we couldn’t let that happen, here is the recipe to make a perfect cup of Assam tea.
Ingredients
- Assam tea powder
- Milk
- Sweetener
Procedure
- Boil 2 cups of milk in a saucepan.
- Add Assam tea powder and sweetener to it. Simmer it for 5 mins in low flame.
- Then, strain the tea, pour it into a teacup and serve hot.
This is the most classic way of making Assam tea but it can be twisted according to your wish. You can have it without milk or add spices like cinnamon or cloves to make it zesty and extra delicious. Adding ice cubes to this tea or freezing it can give you a nice cup of iced Assam tea too.
Health Benefits & Side Effects
The delicious taste and gorgeous colour are not the only charms of Assam tea. It packs a whole lot of goodness and health benefits too. The unique plant compounds in this tea promote antioxidants in the body, fight free radicals, reduce cell damage and inflammation. All of it together boosts the immune system and can keep your body disease-free. Some studies suggest Assam tea might help develop brain health and have anticancer effects.
Along with these uphills comes a few downhills too. High levels of tannins in Assam tea can reduce iron absorption in your body. This may disrupt your digestive process. Also, frequently consuming this tea can expose you to heavy metals like aluminium, which is not recommended by doctors. And not to mention, the caffeine content is a concern we already discussed.
Darjeeling Tea
Darjeeling tea officially got its name very recently in the year 2004. It is obtained from the plant of Camellia Sinensis var. Sinensis and is produced in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, West Bengal, India. Premium Darjeeling teas are generally described to have a fruity, flowery taste and aroma, with woody notes and added astringency. Emerging from a small district, this black tea is harvested in an interval of four flushes.
Teas obtained from each flush taste different and have varied flavours. The best known comes from the second flush, a uniquely sweet, fruity flavour and aroma referred to as muscatel. The subtropical temperate climate of the region is responsible for giving the teas all these characteristics. With the exceptions of oolong, white and green, the region mainly produces varying black tea.
Caffeine Content
The pure tea blend coming from the tea plant is not free from caffeine. It has minimal caffeine to give you a slight boost in between a busy day. The caffeine content in 1 cup of Darjeeling tea amounts to about 50 mg. This surely is more than the caffeine in green tea but not enough to give you a sleepless night.
Brewing Method
This delicious tea is widely available for purchase in markets, be it online or offline. Thus, it is not difficult to get hold of this tea, and neither is it difficult to make it. Instead, it is pretty easy to make Darjeeling tea and here’s how you can do it yourself at home.
Ingredients
- Darjeeling tea powder
- Water
- Sweetener (optional)
Procedure
- Boil 3 cups of water in a pan. Then rinse your teacup with the water. (this preheating technique will clean the cup from impurities and let the flavour be properly understood)
- Now, add the Darjeeling tea powder to the pan and steep it for 3 mins. You can steep it longer for a stronger flavour.
- Also add sweetener at this point to your tea, if you want.
- Then, strain the tea, pour it into a teacup and enjoy!
The strong flavour of Darjeeling tea tastes best without milk. But if you want milk you can add it to this recipe or make Darjeeling Chai tea. The recipes of it can be found all over the internet, you can choose from any of them.
Health Benefits & Side Effects
The Darjeeling tea is a storehouse of health benefits. It can help you to stay cancer-free and boosts cardiovascular health by providing the essential antioxidants your body requires. It also relieves you of stress, promotes weight loss, gives flawless skin and most importantly protects your mental health. On top of all these, it strengthens your bones, hair and immune system too.
The four-flush tea does not have any notable side effects but consuming it in too much quantity can be harmful. This is because of the caffeine content in Darjeeling tea which can prove to be detrimental if consumed excessively.
Differences b/w Darjeeling Tea & Assam Tea
There are two main differences responsible for producing the two different tasting teas. What follows them are the consequent differences in flavour, colour and taste.
Processing
Both Darjeeling and Assam teas are processed very differently. While processing Assam tea, complete oxidation takes place to give rise to the black tea. But when it comes to Darjeeling tea, they are not allowed to oxidize fully. Instead, they are a semi-oxidized version of black tea.
Climate & Growing Regions
Darjeeling teas are grown in the highlands, in the foothills of the Himalayas. In contrast to that, Assam teas are cultivated on the lowlands. This plays a very important role in both the tea’s flavouring and structure. The climate for growing Darjeeling tea is colder, whereas Assam teas grow in clayey, rich soil.
Similarities b/w Assam Tea & Darjeeling Tea
Assam and Darjeeling are both hilly regions and the teas coming from there have a few similarities too. The most prominent of these are, both of them are black teas. And though in dissimilar quantities, they both have caffeine in them. Some people also say they find no difference in the taste of Darjeeling and Assam tea. But this is not supposedly true.
Final Words
You are the best judge of what you like, so this detailed discussion would probably help you decide better. And if you are still confused about which blend is the better, try both of them yourself. The recipes provided will help you to quickly prepare them as well. Also, you don’t need to stick to any one of them. Thus, do as you desire and let us know which you found better.
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