One of our younger tea buyers, Henry, headed out on a three-month training visit to India, Sri Lanka, China and beyond to learn more about tea. Here's his report from Assam:

Like the intrepid British pioneers of the 19^th century I descended on the North Eastern Indian state of Assam, however, unlike them I wasn’t looking for adventure and fortune but to learn about the unique world of tea and the journey it takes all the way from the bush to our great tasting cup of YT!

Assam tea is known for its strength, body and often malty character which helps give us the ‘proper brew’ we know and love here at YT.

The experience of being on a tea estate is very unique; the first thing that took me aback was the sheer scale of the operations.

With hundreds of acres of tea bushes as far as the eye can see, one tea planter described it to me as: ‘A vast area, and should be flat and green, like a billiard table.’

The tea bush looks not too dissimilar to a hedge you may have surrounding your garden, but the leaves held on the bush are the important difference which create the unique flavour.

It was also interesting to see the British influence which remains strong, from colonial style bungalows and buildings, to machinery, to roads/infrastructure and even the original processes still being used today.

A second generation Indian tea planter told me: ‘The foundations set by the British are still strong, reliable and produce the best quality tea - why change a winning formula?’

It was really encouraging to see the positive effects that Rainforest Alliance is having on all tea estates which go into YT.

From the preservation and sustainability of the environment and wildlife, to reducing carbon footprints of the estates, water management systems, better agricultural practices, welfare of all the people who work on the tea estates through housing, education, medical care, bonus schemes etc.

All of these factors helping to benefit the environment, the workers of the estate and the tea bushes themselves.

Henry's first blog post, written just before he set off, is here.