Assam is India's tea powerhouse, a subtropical region straddling the Brahmaputra River where the hot, humid conditions produce some of the world's most full-bodied black teas. Organic gardens are rare here. The climate that makes Assam so productive also makes it ideal for insects, and most estates rely on conventional methods to manage them. This estate, on the northern side of the river, takes a different path. The result is a tea that trades some of the briskness of a traditional Assam for a gentler, more nuanced cup. The full leaf provides substantial heft and a medium body, while a limited number of golden tips lend a natural honey sweetness. It's a wonderful alternative to coffee, rich enough to stand up to milk and sugar but equally rewarding on its own.