Tea & Coffee's Dejoo comes from the second flush, which is where Assam shows its best side — the reverse of Darjeeling, which peaks in its first flush. Second flush leaves are picked between mid-May and June, once they've had time on the bush to mature and build the fuller, hardier character the region is known for. This particular garden sits on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, hemmed in by the hills of Arunachal Pradesh, with the river Ranga marking its eastern boundary. Tropical heat and heavy rainfall through the growing season shape what ends up in the cup.
Graded Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe 1 (SFTGFOP1), it's a malty, full-bodied black tea with caramel at its core, backed by lemon, orange, tropical fruit, honey and milk notes. A brew works out to roughly 45mg of caffeine per 8-ounce cup. Black teas of this style have traditionally been drunk in the belief that they support heart health, help manage blood sugar, and benefit oral health — worth treating as long-held tradition rather than settled fact.
To brew, spoon the loose leaf into an infuser or filter, pour over freshly boiled water, and let it steep for about four minutes. It holds up well on its own, but also takes milk, sugar, honey or lemon without losing its shape. Tea & Coffee packs this tea fresh to order at its factory in Kent.
