One of the largest tea producers in the world, Indian tea is made from two varieties – Camellia sinensis var sinensis and Camellia sinensis var assamica. Native to Assam, Camellia sinensis var assamica is most often used for producing full-bodied and strong black tea.

India has several tea producing regions but Assam and Darjeeling are the best known internationally. Teas from these different regions have distinctive flavor profiles driven by terroir. With an elevation of 230 feet/70m, Assam’s tropical monsoon climate imparts a different taste profile than chillier subtropical temperatures of Darjeeling that has an elevation of 6,560 feet/2,000m. Assam is the single largest tea-growing region in the world and teas from this area are mostly stronger and darker. Teas from Darjeeling command the highest prices globally and are limited in availability because of the difficulty in reaching these hilly growing areas. Teas from Darjeeling tend to be lighter and include floral notes.

Source: Indian Tea Association