Bok wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 12:22 am
. Lesson learned, not all Assam from "lesser" tea destinations is inferior to the supposed Tea Kingdom Taiwan
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Good post, Bok.
The lowest quality tea from Sri Lanka costs so little that no country that pays farm labor decent wages can compete for value
(If one feels he has a use for the lowest quality.)
I imagine that Assam that one can buy for 10 or 20 or 30 cents a gram in Sri Lanka could easily be better than what one could buy at those prices in Taiwan. However, the highest quality teas don't come from every country that sells a type of tea (Assam or whatever). I don't know that much about Assam (nor enjoy it as I did years back) but I think that for black tea in general, consumers don't invest enough of themselves in the development of their palates & finding ideal parameters for themselves for specific black teas. (And, as Bok demonstrates, there are so many obstacles.)
Staying at home so much due to the threat of Covid 19, I have worked to get the most pleasure from teas that I already know that I like. I have loved my Championship Black from high altitude tea grower/producers in Taiwan. Not everyone feels as strongly about its being special as I do; so, I have wondered why (beyond the subjectivity explanation). Now I think I have the best parameters which should please everyone.
Measuring exactly 1 gram per 50 grams of 98C water steeped for 45 seconds, there are notes of fruit, light notes of spice, & smooth black tea flavor for a first infusion. The same parameters for a second infusion yields a cup that gives heavier feel & almost only deep black tea flavor. My siblings love this "Champion" prepared in what I deem as ideal manner. (None of them will get it right in their own places. When my younger sister forgets that it was steeping, she mixes the strong brew with milk and/or sugar & loves that.)
Sorry, getting away from your thread, Bok. A consumer needs to benefit from searching and/or luck to get what he pays for at a fair price. And, for better teas to be worth their price (showing their very best flavors in proper proportion) they might need ideal preparation. A much lazier approach is to just think Taiwan's Assam is best & deal with an overly optimistic vendor who does not scare people with talk of parameters etc. Vendors are guilty of preying on consumers who will take easy ways to decisions.