About the Meleng Tea Estate

Meleng estate is an Assam tea garden famous for producing premium-quality orthodox and CTC teas harvested from clonal bushes. Located in the hilly Jorhat district of south-central Assam, Meleng was established in the 1850s, making it one of the oldest tea plantations in the state.

Meleng estate is named for the Meleng river, which cuts through the tea plantation and surrounding countryside. Once rich in biodiversity, this area is still important for wildlife: just down the road is Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary and forest reserve, a refuge for important birdlife and India's only ape species, the hoolock gibbon.

Renowned for producing outstanding golden tippy teas from its century-old tea bushes, Meleng estate has won numerous awards from the Tea Board of India. The estate also has several initiatives to protect its workers – providing its workers with free housing, fuel, medical care and water, and subsidised food and education.

Other exceptional strong Indian black teas

Assam tea is renowned for its brisk, malty character, making it ideal for masala or classic blends such as our Assam Breakfast tea. Also typical of the region is Assam TGFOP Thowra, while Assam Mangalam is another single-origin tea with enticing caramel characters and a hint of spice. For more delightfully tippy options, we suggest trying a caddy of Manjushree or Golden Valley tea.

Discover the history of Assam tea (and how to brew it) in our in-depth guide. Shopping for more? Try our Classic Black Tea Discovery Collection, which includes taster pouches for five different breakfast brews.

In the Assam valleys, the River is fed further by abundant rainfall that flood the plains, before running through Bangladesh to the Ganges Delta. The climate there is generally humid subtropical (Cfa), with the year split between wet and dry season. The wet season, between April and October, is extremely wet, oppressive and overcast, with 100% humidity for over 4 months, and very little air circulation. Assam experiences the highest rainfall of all Indian states, with severe flooding is a common occurrence.

The dry season is warm and mostly clear, still with very little wind. Throughout the year, the temperatures typically range between lows of 11°C and highs of 31°C, with temperature rarely exceeding 35°C. The high levels of rainfall create a fertile wetland which is known for its exceptional biodiversity. The hillier districts towards the South of the state, with elevations of 600m, experience a temperate climate (Cfb), with milder temperatures. The rich soils of Assam are covered by forests, a mixture of tropical evergreens and deciduous forests, swamps and grasslands. Bamboo, orchids and ferns grow in abundance, There are numerous wildlife sanctuaries, protecting tigers, leopards, rhinos and elephants.

Assam is famous for its silk and, of course, its teas. Although a mere 280 miles from Darjeeling, India’s other famous tea-growing region, Assam produces a very distinctive tea, with rich, malty notes, contrasting with the Darjeeling muscatel and floral notes. Due to the differences in topography, the tea bushes of Assam grow in higher temperatures, in a soil that is rich in nitrogen and organic matter. The Camellia sinensis assamica thrives in these conditions, producing larger leaves with robust flavours.