Assam black tea is made from “TTA No. 8”, an “enhanced version” of Assam developed through decades of research by Taiwan’s Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES). It offers better astringency and aroma compared to Indian Assam, while top-grade Assam black tea features pleasant caramel and cane sugar aromas.
How Taiwanese Assam Differs from Indian Assam
If you’re new to the tea, you should know that Taiwanese Assam is quite different from Indian Assam. Taiwanese Assam black tea is mostly made from “TTA No. 8“, a tea cultivar bred starting from the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan last century. Although it was selected from the Indian Assam Jaipuri strain, the flavor profile and growing environment have resulted in significant differences.
Taiwan's Classic Black Tea: Assam Black Tea
The Taiwanese Assam tea tree “TTA No. 8” was successfully bred in the 1960s and planted around Yuchi in Nantou and Ruisui in Hualien, becoming Taiwan’s most successful black tea cultivar from the 1960s to the 1990s. Today, production is highest and quality finest around SunMoon Lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou, making SunMoon Lake Assam black tea a classic and representative famous tea of Taiwan.
Characteristics of Taiwanese Assam Black Tea
Indian Assam black tea is known for its full-bodied, robust character and malty aroma. Taiwanese Assam black tea builds upon this foundation with an even richer flavor profile and a pleasant astringency. Premium Taiwanese Assam black teas even develop complex notes of sugarcane and caramel.
Taiwanese Assam Black Tea Today
Although production declined for a period in the 1990s, the revival of Taiwanese black tea after 2000 brought a rebound in Assam output. While its yield may not match the rising star “Ruby (TTES #18),” its unique flavor profile and sugarcane notes continue to win over many tea lovers. Around SunMoon Lake, the region’s largest tea-producing area, Assam black tea remains a locally renowned specialty.