Tea:

Behora FBOP 2nd Flush - Estate Black Tea

Region:

Assam

Grade:   

FBOP (Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe)

Manufacture Type:  

Orthodox

Cup Characteristics:

Behora’s location and soil give a wonderful malty full bodied flavor. The astringency shouts ‘2nd flush – June production, the best time for Assam tea.

Infusion:  

Bright and tending coppery

Information:

Behora is considered by many to be the best tea estate in Assam. The standard of quality of tea that is made is always high and the price that Behora achieves for its produce is consistently in the top 5%. The Golaghat district where Behora is located is known for its superior quality teas as it is here that the soil conditions are better than in other areas of Assam.

Located near Behora is Kaziranga Nation Park – home of the rare 1 horned rhino. It is not uncommon for rhinos to come close to Behora, especially during the monsoon season when the flood jungles force the rhino intro m more open areas. It is possible to go on 1 day elephant safaris in Kaziranga Park to view the rhino and if you are lucky you may even see a tiger. In addition to this there is a large herd of wild elephants in the forests bordering Behora. Not only are there these wild animals to contend with but there are also several types of snakes that are found on the estate. Two are very poisonous – the banded crait and the black cobra, and the third type is the reticulated Indian python. The incidence of snake bite is low but nevertheless the estate has enough anti venom serum available to handle virtually any contingency.

George Williamson (GW) is a model employer. The estate provides excellent benefits to its labor force and their family. There is a 50 bed hospital on the estate staffed by a doctor and 3 paramedical staff, 3 primary schools for the young children, and enough housing to take care of the 1200 family units that live on the estate. The estate also provides blankets, aprons, umbrellas, shoes and firewood to all its inhabitants. There is even a 175 acre forest that is managed in a manner which ensures the estate is self sustaining for firewood. Subsidized food allowances are given weekly and on the weekend the estate organizes and encourages participation sports programs. Not only is Behora superb tea estate but a town of more than 8000 people.

If you like this tea – please email the estate manager and tell him how much you enjoyed the tea – he would be thrilled to receive your email and share it with his staff. Address your email to ‘Senior Manager’ behora@williamsonteaassam.com.

Brewing Instructions:

Hot Tea Brewing Method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help capture the malty character of this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea ‘straight-up’

Iced Tea Brewing Method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 5 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!