Assam is the largest continuous tea cultivation area in the world. Wild tea trees were discovered in the federal state of Assam in the beginning of the 19th century. These were reproduced and planted in the Assamese lowlands around the Brahmaputra river. Tea has been exported from Assam since 1837. The teas are plucked during a series of harvests, mostly during summer, and processed into fully oxidised black teas. Assam teas are dark, strong, tart with a malty character and sometimes spicy notes.