Tea:

Behora TGFOP 2nd Flus - Estate Black Tea

Region:

Assam - Golaghat district

Grade:   

TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe )

Manufacture Type:  

Orthodox

Cup Characteristics:

A classic Assam with a traditional leaf style. Produced during June this tea embodies all the flavor and strength you expect from a top Assam estate. A malty self drinking tea.

Infusion:  

Bright and tending coppery

Information:

Sri Boyo Ghakte had this to say about Behora (he was 105 years old when he relayed this information). “The factory was started around 1908 on the banks of the Dhunseri River where the present day clonal nursery exists. This was the best place for a factory because it was easier to dispatch tea via the river route which was the only way to transport teas. The factory building was made of wood. Leaf was naturally withered and cut into small pieces my men and then grinded in huge wooden bowls. The tea was dried in big cast iron pans over a slow fire. There was a steamer depot on the banks of the Dhunseri and all teas were shipped from this depot. The present day factory was built around 1935. When they were clearing land for the estate in the earl 1900’s the manager used local people. He also used elephants. However the locals would not dare go into the forest that was being cleared because it was full of wild animals. The forest was filled with tigers, 1 horned rhino and elephants not to mention many varieties of poisonous snakes”
Behora is the flagship estate of the George Williamson Assam group. The Golaghat district produces Assam’s best teas on account of the soil conditions. The product from Behora is keenly sought by buyers all over the world. You might be interested to know the following statistics concerning Behora Estate. The estate covers more than 5 square miles and produces 3 million pounds of tea annually. It employs about 1700 people. The estate provides housing for the workers and their families. There are 1200 families living on Behora and the total population is over 7700 people living in 883 estate provided homes. The estate has a 50 bed hospital and also has 3 primary schools for the labors’ children. In addition to this, there is a community center where the workers can watch TV and play various organized sporting activities.

If you like this tea – please email the estate manager and tell him – he would be thrilled to receive your email. 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!