Definition:
Monsoon rains tea (also called the monsoon flush, rain tea, or third flush in some regional contexts) is the harvest of tea from Indian subcontinent plantations during the monsoon season, typically July through September. The wet, consistently overcast conditions during this period produce large quantities of tea, but the quality is generally considered significantly below that of the first and second flushes.
Why Monsoon Tea Is Lower Quality
The heavy, consistent rainfall and reduced sunlight of the monsoon period affect the tea plant in ways that reduce quality:
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Excess water absorption | Leaves become wetter and heavier; dilutes flavour compounds |
| Rapid, dense growth | Shoots grow fast but are less concentrated in aroma and taste |
| Reduced sunlight | Less photosynthetic activity; less complex secondary metabolite development |
| Higher pest pressure | Humidity favours insects and fungal disease |
| Difficulty drying | High ambient humidity complicates the withering and drying steps |
The result is a leaf that produces a heavy, brisk, flat cup — high in body and colour (suitable for CTC production and tea bag blending), but lacking the aromatic complexity of first or second flush.
Uses
Monsoon flush tea is used primarily:
- CTC (Crush Tear Curl) production for commodity blending
- Commercial tea bags sold under major supermarket brands
- Price-point teas sold in bulk to blending houses
- Export to Russia and the Middle East, historically major buyers of Indian monsoon teas
Darjeeling vs. Assam Monsoon Tea
- Darjeeling monsoon: Typically the least valued of the Darjeeling flushes. Darjeeling third flush can still have character, but lacks the signature muscatel of the first and second flush
- Assam monsoon: Assam’s monsoon (called the “third flush” in some catalogues) is similarly heavy and suitable mainly for blending; some growers sell it as “rain tea” at commodity prices
Autumn Flush (Fourth Flush)
Following the monsoon, an autumn flush occurs in October–November in Darjeeling and some Assam gardens. The autumn flush is considered a step above monsoon but below the prized first and second flushes — with a brighter, crisper character as conditions cool and dry.