At Aideobari Tea Estates in Assam, tea takes many forms. From glittering buds and whole-leaf orthodox teas to green, white, pearl and CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) styles, Rujani’s collection reflects the many possibilities of the Assam tea leaf. Grown and crafted on the family estate, these teas reveal the skill, experimentation and diversity behind a single-origin Assam cup.
Glittering tips distinguish Tippy Reserve, an Assam black tea made from carefully selected shoots and buds.
A whole-leaf black tea, with larger leaves that retain their shape through processing.
Made entirely from young tea buds, this white tea is distinguished by its slender, silvery appearance.
Tender tea leaves are shaped into broad, flat forms, reflecting the influence of Chinese green-tea traditions.
A green tea from Assam, part of a collection that explores the region beyond its familiar black teas.
Tea leaves are rolled into small, tightly formed pearls that gradually unfurl when steeped.
A green tea that brings a different expression of Assam’s tea leaf to the cup.
A white tea made from a young leaf and bud, representing a less familiar style of tea from Assam.
The leaves are processed using Crush, Tear, Curl, producing the small, rounded particles associated with strong Indian chai.
A black tea with a smoky character, part of Assam’s expanding repertoire of speciality teas.
A black tea in the collection, representing another expression of Assam’s traditional tea-making repertoire.
Green tea is combined with rose, bringing together the tea leaf and a floral botanical.
A whole-leaf orthodox tea, made to preserve the form and character of the leaf.
Made from Camellia sinensis var. assamica, this orthodox tea retains its whole leaves through processing.
Two approaches to Assam tea-making meet here: whole-leaf orthodox processing and the granular CTC method.
A whole-leaf Assam tea associated with the distinctive muscatel character found in speciality teas.
A silver-toned speciality tea, distinguished by its pale appearance and delicate leaf form.
The leaves are rolled into compact pearls, giving the tea its characteristic rounded form.
Golden-toned leaves give this speciality tea its distinctive appearance.
A blend of whole-leaf tea and CTC, bringing together the fuller character of Assam’s two processing styles.
