Wells Assam Reserve Black Loose Leaf Tea – 4 oz Tin

I'm sharing the tea that belongs at the top of Lindsey's list — her absolute favorite! And after spending some time with this cup, I can completely understand why.

Wells Assam Reserve is a golden-tipped black tea from the historic Harmutty Tea Estate in Northeast Assam, India. The beautiful leaves produce a rich amber-colored cup with all the qualities I look for in a good Assam.

I brewed mine at 200°F for 3½ minutes. Although the website recommends boiling water, I generally prefer to keep my black teas at 200°F or below. It's just my usual preference, and this one turned out beautifully!

The first sip gave me exactly what I was hoping for: a lovely malty character, a smooth body, and a rich, satisfying finish. It's bold enough to be a classic breakfast tea, but smooth enough to enjoy any time of day. There's a comforting simplicity to this cup that makes you want to slow down and enjoy it.

I chose to enjoy mine straight, without milk or sugar, which is how I typically prefer my black teas. I really wanted to appreciate the natural character of the leaves, and this Assam certainly didn't need anything added.

Now I understand why Lindsey chose this as her favorite. It's the kind of everyday black tea that earns a permanent place in your cupboard and I know it has a place in mine now too.

Wells Assam Reserve

This tea from the Harmutty Estate is one of the most wonderful teas I have ever tasted.
I brewed 1 teaspoon at 210F for 3 minutes.
The steeped tea is a beautiful brown color. It is medium bodied with a malty flavor perfect for every day or special use - it really hits the spot and is a great balanced assam.

If you ever wanted to try assam tea and were a little hesitant - this is one to start with. You will enjoy the tea with our without adding anything.

I steeped this tea for 3 minutes in a teapot, using water at 212F, and added a little sugar and a splash of milk.

The resulting cup is exquisite. It’s bold, and it’s got a bit of a bite at first sip, but is incredibly smooth when swallowing. Malty, with notes of caramel and molasses. More subtle, earthier notes hang out in the background with a richer note of cocoa. A true delight for new and seasoned tea lovers alike.

There’s not much more to say — in my opinion, it’s a perfect cup of tea. My British roots are in full approval. This is one I’ll be reaching for in the mornings quite often from here on out.

I love the simple yet elegant look of this packaging!  Opening the package, the freshness is obvious....a beautiful aroma!

Honestly, I didn't know a thing about this particular variety of Assam until a few years ago and I must say: it is a very fine tea and I fully understand why anyone would have this at the top of their favorites list.

Like most, my favorite thing about a quality Assam is the bold and malty flavor, and this tea did not disappoint.  It has a bit of a chocolatey note and a light sweetness...maybe molasses or caramel.  It's very smooth, no bitterness, with a velvety mouthfeel.  

This is a tea that I can enjoy as my first cup of the day or my mid-afternoon cup.  I enjoyed my cup with a little milk and a pinch of sugar, my favorite way to drink Assam.

Whether you're new to Assam teas or a seasoned sipper, this is definitely one to add to your collection.

Brewed hot, I used 5 grams of tea with 212F water. Hands down, this was an absolutely amazing tea! I adore Assam, and this was just right—malty, rich, and smooth. I didn’t find that this was bitter or astringent at all. This was so delightful as an afternoon pick me up, but this could easily be a breakfast tea for me. I do get a slight cocoa and caramel note at the tail end of every sip that really gives this tea some depth. This is a tea that is so good, that I found it didn’t need anything else added to it. What a great tea!

This tea was gifted to me by the company, and I am providing my honest review.

This is my kind of tea. The aroma is earthy and sweet. It has a golden dark amber color. A bit malty, the flavor is bold with deep rich undertones. A cozy, well-rounded, delightful tea. Perfect for your daily morning cup or slowly enjoying on a cool and crisp fall afternoon or probably just all of the time.

Excellent plain or with cream. Perfect cup for a cool crisp quiet morning.

I steeped the tea as directed at 212 degrees for 3 minutes.

I received this tea in exchange from for my honest review.

This Harmutty Estate golden-tipped Assam is absolute perfection. As someone who doesn't reach for pure black tea nearly as often as others, this genuinely could convert me into a black tea drinker. The tea gives off a lightly malty warmth, with absolutely zero bitterness or astringency no matter how long you steep it (within reason.)

The longer the steep, the more the malt profile stands out and remains on the front of the palate. I get notes of hazelnut and malt and cocoa. This is an excellent bold tea to begin your day with, steeped on the longer end, and a nice dessert-like option for the end of the day should you steep in lighter.

This is the first tea I've had from this company - a fantastic, 5-star start for Apothecary & Leaf.

A bold, rich, and full-bodied cup with a wonderful malty character. There are pleasant notes of toasted bread, caramel, and a hint of natural sweetness that help round out the flavor. Despite its strength, it remains smooth and satisfying without being overly bitter or astringent.
This is the kind of tea that makes you look forward to getting out of bed in the morning. Plenty of character to stand on its own, but certainly robust enough to handle a splash of milk if that's your preference.
A great choice for anyone who appreciates a classic, hearty Assam black tea! Will be ordering more of this soon.

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this tea and I couldn’t wait to make a cup. It brewed up a lovely amber color and the flavor was amazing! This Assam delivers a rich, robust cup defined by strong malty notes and an incredibly smooth finish. I tried it both plain and with a splash of milk, and it was absolutely delicious either way! I can't decide which way I liked it more. Highly recommend trying this one!

I used 2 tsp of tea, steeped at 212° for 3 minutes

This tea was gifted to me by purveyor, but all opinions are my own.

A great cup of Assam will always be one of my favorite teas. In my opinion this Wells Assam Reserve is one of the best. It brewed up to a dark, rich reddish color. The fragrance is malty and yet sweet. The flavor is bold and smooth. Holds up to the addition of cream and sweetener well. A truly satisfying cup.

Wells Assam Reserve is a beautifully smooth, full bodied black tea that delivers a bold yet remarkably gentle cup. Despite its richness, I experienced no bitterness or harshness, making it wonderfully easy to enjoy.

What stood out most to me was how well this tea holds its own without any additions. I enjoyed an entire pot plain, without milk or sweetener, and found it thoroughly satisfying. Its smooth character and balanced finish make it an excellent choice for anyone who appreciates a quality Assam.

A lovely example of a straightforward black tea that doesn't need anything extra to shine.

An Absolutely Superb Assam

Wells Assam Reserve is unquestionably one of the finest Assam teas I have ever experienced. The beautiful golden-tipped leaves from the historic Harmutty Tea Estate produce a magnificent, richly colored amber infusion with exceptional depth, remarkable smoothness, and a wonderfully developed malty character.

The aroma is exquisite, offering comforting notes of freshly baked bread, gentle honeyed sweetness, and delicate floral undertones. On the palate, the tea is beautifully full-bodied and robust without the harsh bitterness or aggressive astringency that can sometimes accompany a stronger Assam. Its natural sweetness and exceptionally smooth finish make every sip an absolute pleasure.

This tea is spectacular enjoyed on its own, but adding a splash of milk or cream creates an entirely different experience, bringing forward a luxurious, almost velvety richness while preserving its distinctive malty strength.

As someone who particularly appreciates a bold, traditional Assam, I find the balance of strength, refinement, and complexity in Wells Assam Reserve truly extraordinary. Apothecary & Leaf has selected an exceptional tea that deserves a permanent place in any Assam enthusiast’s collection. An absolutely superb offering that I cannot recommend highly enough!

This is such a lovely, well-rounded black tea! I really enjoy the velvety mouthfeel and rich, malty flavor, with just a whisper of caramel-like sweetness that lingers at the end of each sip. It has that comforting, classic black tea flavor that makes me want to slow down and savor my cup.
One of my favorite things about this tea is its versatility. It’s wonderful on its own, allowing those malty notes to shine, but I can also see it being delicious with a splash of cream or a little sweetener when I’m in the mood for something a bit more indulgent. I love that I could enjoy it hot on a chilly morning or pour it over ice for a refreshing afternoon treat.
And the color! The beautiful copper liquor practically glistens in the light, making this tea just as pretty in the cup as it is enjoyable to drink.
For me, Wells Assam Reserve is the kind of tea I would happily keep on hand because it’s dependable, flavorful, and easy to enjoy in so many different ways. Sometimes a simple, well-made cup of black tea is exactly what I’m looking for, and this one certainly fits the bill!