After a short hiatus (I got busy with work, sorry) I am back with a tea that I initially reviewed and photographed back in March. So, you’ll have to excuse the images of hot cross buns! Today, I’m finally giving you my thoughts on Whittard of Chelsea’s Tippy Assam.
I love an Assam tea, so when I saw that Whittard had a special tippy Assam available, I didn’t hesitate to splurge on the full-sized tea cannister. If you aren’t a fan of loose leaf tea, Whittard has a huge range of bagged teas, and you can purchase fillable teabags online too.
So, let’s put the kettle on and dive in.
Whittard Tippy Assam Loose Leaf at a Glance
Izzy’s Rating
- Origins: Assam, India
- Flavour: Smooth and lightly malty black tea with no bitterness and low tannins
This tea is gloriously smooth and has just the right amount of malt. I loved that it went down easily without milk but could also be brewed stronger if you prefer a milk-and-sugar kind of cuppa.
Full Review – Tippy Assam Black Tea
- Type: Loose leaf
- Tea: Black tea
- Origins: Assam, India
- Flavour Notes: Smooth, no bitterness, gentle malt, low tannins
- Aroma: Brisk, tannins, dry, smoky warmth, rich
- Milk or Lemon: Milk, if desired
- Where to Buy: Whittard’s Official Website or Amazon
Assam is known to be rich and malty, so when I opened the cannister and was met with brisk tannins and a hint of smoky warmth, I was a little let down. Not because the tea smells bad (in fact, the dried loose leaf looked and smelled fantastic), it just wasn’t what you expect from an Assam tea.
Thankfully, a little water and patience quickly changed the game. Once brewed, the aroma that swirls up from your teacup is delightfully intense with strong notes of malt and rich, warming undertones.
The colour of the tea is worth admiring too. It’s bright amber without milk and comes alive when the sunlight hits it.
For the purposes of my tea reviews, I always sip without milk to get an accurate description of the tea flavour itself. But rest assured, I went back and tried Whittard Tippy Assam again with milk and was not disappointed.
It’s smooth and low in tannins, meaning the bitterness is kept in check and gentle malty notes are given permission to shine through. It’s thin on your tongue but silky smooth as it goes down. The ever-so-slightly drying aftertaste leaves you longing for another sip until you’ve finished the cup and feel rejuvenated from head to toe.
Does it have the complexity of the fine Assam teas I like to try from What-Cha and other independent tea stores? No, not even close. But there’s something undeniably comforting about a simple yet perfectly executed cup of Assam tea.
Well done, Whittard. You’ve created a delicious everyday Assam tea for those that want more than what the supermarket has to offer.
How to Brew Whittard Tippy Assam
Whittard’s basic instructions are pretty good, but here’s my two cents.
If you want to drink it black (highly recommended) then only brew for 3 minutes. If you’re adding milk, brew for 5 minutes. Either way, you want a generous teaspoon of loose leaf per serving and freshly boiled water straight from the kettle.
This makes a great breakfast tea, especially if something sweet is on the menu. Granola bar, pancakes, or just, like, cake for breakfast. No judgement here. You can really drink it at any time of day but avoid late evenings as the caffeine content may keep you up past bedtime.
Why Whittard of Chelsea?
Whittard are a well-known British brand with a great reputation and a fairly long history (though not as long as Twinings). They sell their tea internationally on both their website and Amazon, and for most of their teas you’ve got the choice of loose leaf or teabags.
But let’s talk about Assam.
Assam is a state in India that is well-known for growing tea. In fact, the Assam tea is from a particular strain of the Camellia sinensis tea plant. Basically, it’s a different variety than Chinese tea. It’s known for having a bold, rounded flavour with plenty of malty notes.
The ‘Tippy’ part of Whittard’s Tippy Assam refers to the golden tip of the tea leaves. This is a sign of quality – only the younger tea leaves at the top of the plant are harvested to make this tea. If you’ve been put off bog-standard breakfast teas because they’re full of dust and twigs rather than high quality leaves, then pay attention!
Not only does the loose leaf allow you to visually inspect your tea and ensure you’re getting the quality you paid for, but it also lasts longer. Whittard Tippy Assam can be confidently brewed twice before you throw the leaves away. Sometimes you can push it to 3 brews, if you’re brewing lightly.
Summary
This is a good quality tea at a fairly decent price point and the flavour is, frankly, quite morish. The malty notes are present and the texture is silky smooth. If you want a simple yet versatile Assam that can be drunk with and without milk, Whittard Tippy Assam could be for you.
You can find a link above to buy this tea through Amazon, but with international delivery available you’re usually better off buying it directly from Whittard of Chelsea.
Tea Recommendation
If you’re looking for breakfast teas, I’ve got to recommend this new contender from a beautifully British brand: Bucks Blend by Two Spoons Tea. It’s rich and comforting with black tea sourced from Kenya, Assam and Darjeeling.