TV1 to TV31: The Clones That Built Modern Assam

Almost no Assam garden grows tea from seed anymore. Since 1949, Tocklai's breeding station has released a numbered line of clones, TV1 to TV31, and they now cover most of the valley. Here is what a clone is, why the industry switched, and what got lost along the way.

What Your Tap Water Does to a Cup of Assam

Two households can brew the same tin of Assam, the same weight of leaf, the same boil, and still end up with two different cups. The variable is not the tea. It is the calcium and magnesium already in the water before the kettle ever gets involved.