Assam CTC Breakfast Tea
Dark, brisk and quick to brew: the pellet tea behind the everyday milk-tea cup.
Assam CTC is tea made by the crush, tear, curl method, which turns leaf into small hard pellets that brew fast and strong. The cup is dark and malty with a brisk edge, and it stands up to milk and sugar.
Sensory profile
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 58 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 24.2 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
Related reading
| Brewing method | Teapot with Infuser |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | CTC Granules |
| Water temperature | 203°F / 95°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00-4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf black tea
- 240 g filtered water at 95°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 2.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 240 g of water at 95°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 3:50Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 58 mg for an 8 oz cup.
For milk tea
CTC over-extracts quickly. If you plan to add milk, steep a minute longer rather than adding more leaf, then add milk and sugar to taste.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Assam CTC is tea made by the crush, tear, curl method, which turns leaf into small hard pellets that brew fast and strong. The cup is dark and malty with a brisk edge, and it stands up to milk and sugar. Brewed in a teapot with an infuser at 95°C.
Origin & Story
CTC stands for crush, tear, curl. Instead of rolling the leaf whole, a machine pulls it through cylinders with rows of sharp teeth that crush, tear and curl it into small, hard pellets. The first CTC machine went into service in 1930 at the Amgoorie estate in Assam, under William McKercher, and the method spread fast after 1950, especially in India and Africa.
Those pellets give up their flavor quickly, which is why CTC is so common in tea bags and in the strong base of Indian chai. About 90% of all the tea made in India is CTC, and Assam is a leading producer. The cup pours a deep red-brown, with a rich, malty taste and a brisk edge.
The trade-off is that crushing evens out flavor. Tea writers note that the method tends to homogenize black tea flavors, so CTC is chosen for strength and consistency more than for subtlety. That consistency is the point of a breakfast tea, and Assam teas are often sold under the breakfast name.
Fine granules extract fast, so a pot of CTC wants a shorter steep than whole leaf. Use water at about 95°C and 3 g of granules for 240 ml, and steep three to four minutes before you lift the infuser.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 70/100 |
| Acidity | 46/100 |
| Bitterness | 54/100 |
| Body | 84/100 |
| Aroma | 82/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Assam CTC Breakfast Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 58 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Assam CTC Breakfast Tea?
Target 95°C (203°F).
How long should Assam CTC Breakfast Tea be extracted?
Timing: 3:00-4:00. Method: Teapot with Infuser. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: CTC Granules.
What does CTC stand for?
Crush, tear, curl. The leaf passes through rollers with sharp teeth that crush, tear and curl it into small, hard pellets, which brew quickly into a strong cup.
Why is CTC tea used in tea bags?
The small, even pellets give up their flavor fast and make a dark, strong cup, which suits tea bags and milk tea.
Who should avoid Assam CTC Breakfast Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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