A Pot Of Assam Tea: 8-Min Recipe

Assam black tea is 200 years old. Assamica variety of Camellia sinensis was discovered growing wild in Magherita, Tinsukia, by Scottish adventurer Robert Bruce. 

Later organised cultivation began and Assam tea was born.
Know how to brew this special tea? Tanya Munshi tells you how.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp Assam tea leaves (not powder)
• 3 cups water

Ingredients, continued

• A few tulsi/mint/lemongrass leaves (optional)
• 1 tsp sugar (optional)
• Dash lemon juice (optional)
• Teapot (must)

Method

• Bring the water to a boil in saucepan or kettle.
  Keep the teapot ready.
  Swill 1 cup of the boiling water in the teapot to warm it up.

Method, continued

• Toss the 1 cup water used to swill the teapot.
• Add 2 tsp Assam leaves at the bottom of the teapot.
  Pour remaining boiling 2 cups water in.

Method, continued

• Let the tea stand 5 minutes to brew.
• While it is brewing, can add tulsi/mint/lemon grass.
  Using a strainer pour into 2 teacups.

Method, continued

• Flavour with sugar or lemon juice.
• Ideally, don't add milk.

Tips: Keep a small airtight container with mint/tulsi/lemongrass leaves in your office drawer.
Crush a few leaves and add to your black milkless tea.
To soothe a sore throat, add a pinch of black pepper to your tea.
For common cold and cough, add a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon in your black tea.