Hi all,

I've had two or three EXCITING Assams from Uptons before.

The one I remember most was "Assam FTGFOP1 SPL CL" from Mangalam
Estate (OR-575). It was *so* complex and spicy!

AND it was THICK: Help me with this. The tea was *thick* in my
mouth, as if it had some magic extra ingredient. This quality was not
hard to brew for: a light infusion, a strong infusion, they both had
this quality. I've had lots of Assams, and this was not simply
"malt."

This tea was just under $16/lb. When I fiished it off (in early
2007), I tried ordering more. It was all gone. I got a different lot
from the same estate, around the same price, but it wasn't organic (so
I know it was a different lot), and it was fine tea... but not the
dazzler I had had!

Any current recommendations of Assams you have found amazing?

Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
stuff. Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
positive: Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
weren't excited about?

On Mar 9, 8:51*am, Thitherflit > wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I've had two or three EXCITING Assams from Uptons before.
>
> The one I remember most was "Assam FTGFOP1 SPL CL" from Mangalam
> Estate (OR-575). *It was *so* complex and spicy!
>
> AND it was THICK: *Help me with this. *The tea was *thick* in my
> mouth, as if it had some magic extra ingredient. *This quality was not
> hard to brew for: *a light infusion, a strong infusion, they both had
> this quality. *I've had lots of Assams, and this was not simply
> "malt."
>
> This tea was just under $16/lb. *When I fiished it off (in early
> 2007), I tried ordering more. *It was all gone. *I got a different lot
> from the same estate, around the same price, but it wasn't organic (so
> I know it was a different lot), and it was fine tea... but not the
> dazzler I had had!
>
> Any current recommendations of Assams you have found amazing?
>
> Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
> pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
> stuff. *Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
> positive: *Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
> weren't excited about?

More tellingly, I think a lot of people take a sample first, and you
can't write a review on a sample. So, you don't buy the four ounces
you write the review on until you know you like it. This doesn't make
the reviews invalid, just selective. Toci

"Thitherflit" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> I've had two or three EXCITING Assams from Uptons before.
>
> The one I remember most was "Assam FTGFOP1 SPL CL" from Mangalam
> Estate (OR-575). It was *so* complex and spicy!
>
> AND it was THICK: Help me with this. The tea was *thick* in my
> mouth, as if it had some magic extra ingredient. This quality was not
> hard to brew for: a light infusion, a strong infusion, they both had
> this quality. I've had lots of Assams, and this was not simply
> "malt."
>
> This tea was just under $16/lb. When I fiished it off (in early
> 2007), I tried ordering more. It was all gone. I got a different lot
> from the same estate, around the same price, but it wasn't organic (so
> I know it was a different lot), and it was fine tea... but not the
> dazzler I had had!
>
> Any current recommendations of Assams you have found amazing?
>
> Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
> pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
> stuff. Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
> positive: Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
> weren't excited about?

They do "censor" if you want to call it that....they refused one of my
reviews once and I won't write any more for them because of that. I still
order from them of course, it's their website and they can manage it how
they want.

Melinda

"Thitherflit" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> I've had two or three EXCITING Assams from Uptons before.
>
> The one I remember most was "Assam FTGFOP1 SPL CL" from Mangalam
> Estate (OR-575). It was *so* complex and spicy!
>
> AND it was THICK: Help me with this. The tea was *thick* in my
> mouth, as if it had some magic extra ingredient. This quality was not
> hard to brew for: a light infusion, a strong infusion, they both had
> this quality. I've had lots of Assams, and this was not simply
> "malt."
>
> This tea was just under $16/lb. When I fiished it off (in early
> 2007), I tried ordering more. It was all gone. I got a different lot
> from the same estate, around the same price, but it wasn't organic (so
> I know it was a different lot), and it was fine tea... but not the
> dazzler I had had!
>
> Any current recommendations of Assams you have found amazing?
>
> Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
> pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
> stuff. Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
> positive: Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
> weren't excited about?


Sorry, didn't address your Assams...I haven't had any for awhile now, I've
been gravitating more towards da hong paos and Ying de hongs, but I remember
really liking assams from Orangajuli estate. But that was last year or
possibly summer before last even. Also there was an assam from Greenwood
estate that I got from Simpson and Vail years ago that I really liked. Old
information though. I guess your best bet might be to do that sample thing
and then try them quick when you get them so the one you like doesn't sell
out before you order more.

I think I might have overdone them at one point, or maybe just overdone
"regular" ones, my palate got worn out and they started to taste almost the
same.

Melinda

"Melinda" > writes:

> "Thitherflit" > wrote in message
> ...
> > [...]
> > Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
> > pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
> > stuff. Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
> > positive: Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
> > weren't excited about?
>
> They do "censor" if you want to call it that....they refused one of my
> reviews once and I won't write any more for them because of that. I still
> order from them of course, it's their website and they can manage it how
> they want.

Do you still have the review you tried to get Upton to carry? If so,
care to post it here?

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html
recent addition: Dongmian

On Mar 10, 4:47*pm, "Melinda" > wrote:
> "Thitherflit" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi all,
>
> > I've had two or three EXCITING Assams from Uptons before.
>
> > The one I remember most was "Assam FTGFOP1 SPL CL" from Mangalam
> > Estate (OR-575). *It was *so* complex and spicy!
>
> > AND it was THICK: *Help me with this. *The tea was *thick* in my
> > mouth, as if it had some magic extra ingredient. *This quality was not
> > hard to brew for: *a light infusion, a strong infusion, they both had
> > this quality. *I've had lots of Assams, and this was not simply
> > "malt."
>
> > This tea was just under $16/lb. *When I fiished it off (in early
> > 2007), I tried ordering more. *It was all gone. *I got a different lot
> > from the same estate, around the same price, but it wasn't organic (so
> > I know it was a different lot), and it was fine tea... but not the
> > dazzler I had had!
>
> > Any current recommendations of Assams you have found amazing?
>
> > Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
> > pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
> > stuff. *Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
> > positive: *Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
> > weren't excited about?
>
> They do "censor" if you want to call it that....they refused one of my
> reviews once and I won't write any more for them because of that. I still
> order from them of course, it's their website and they can manage it how
> they want.
>
> Melinda- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

They published one of mine where I gave an enraged one star review.
And I'm avoiding one of their Assams where somebody else, as a single
reviewer, said a tea tasted like decayed raisins. Possibly you
reviewed one that they were about to take off their list anyway?
Toci

"Lewis Perin" > wrote in message
news
> "Melinda" > writes:
>
>> "Thitherflit" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > [...]
>> > Oh, and, I've read some rather uncomplimentary reviews on Upton's web-
>> > pages... negative enough that I don't think Upton's was censoring
>> > stuff. Remember, though, that it is likely most reviews will be
>> > positive: Would *you* waste time writing a review of something you
>> > weren't excited about?
>>
>> They do "censor" if you want to call it that....they refused one of my
>> reviews once and I won't write any more for them because of that. I still
>> order from them of course, it's their website and they can manage it how
>> they want.
>
> Do you still have the review you tried to get Upton to carry? If so,
> care to post it here?
>
> /Lew
> ---
> Lew Perin /
> http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html
> recent addition: Dongmian

Lol, no...it was years ago. I figured I used some adjectives that had one
meaning for me but another for them, I believe the word "dusty" was in there
somewhere, where I meant "dry" or whatever the opposite of full or fruity
or...round? would be I guess, but of course they might think I meant "dirty"
which I certainly didn't...anyhow, it's much tea under the bridge. And I've
since also grown to appreciate such "bright" teas in their own right. Though
my reviewing vocabulary is still pretty limited.

Melinda

I was very impressed with these two, but that was back in 2006.

Assam Dejoo GFBOP
Nahorhabi Estate FTGFOP1 SPL CL