This Formosa Red Assam from Red Blossom is an almost perfect balance of deep and rich flavors, mixing notes of dark chocolate with bursts of bright orange.
Astringency
Juicy
Body
Medium
Strength
Strong
Rating
5 out of 5
Family
Black/Red
Country
Taiwan
Region
Yuchi
Mood
Bright
Brand
Red Blossom
Season
Spring
Year
n/a
Elevation
n/a
Dry leaves
Dense forest
Wet leaves
Wine
Stewed carrots
Tea aroma
Chocolate
Tea flavor
Cocoa powder
Orange peel
The Tea: Formosa Red Assam
I’m always looking for impressive black teas. Green and oolong teas are my go-tos, but when you sip a complex, balanced, high-quality black tea, it’s a wonderful experience. This is one of those teas. It’s deep and rich in flavor, mixing notes of dark chocolate with bursts of bright orange.
Black teas with similar flavor profiles tend to be pretty bitter and astringent; the chocolate notes are more like cocoa nibs and the citrus notes are more like orange rind. These can be exquisite teas in their own way, but it’s not what I’m looking for. This Formosa Red Assam from Red Blossom is an almost perfect balance of flavors.
The Name
Formosa tea comes from Taiwan, where it gets its name. Formosa was a short-lived republic on the island known today as Taiwan in the late 1800s. Assam is also a tea growing region located in India, where the Assam tea varietal comes from. This particular tea was grown in Taiwan (Formosa) and comes from Assam tea plants. It’s a very worldly tea.
The Terroir
According to Red Blossom, Assam teas grown in their native India are usually quite astringent. The growing conditions in Taiwan where this tea was grown removes some of that astringency. The tea growers also allowed this tea to be bitten by aphids, creating an even sweeter brewing experience.
