Tea (Camellia sinensis): Black Tea

Last Updated: Aug. 19, 2010

Black tea is tea that has been fully oxidized (sometimes referred to as being "fermented" although it is not a true fermentation process). Both the leaves and brewed tea tend to have a dark color, although some black teas are golden in color. In Chinese, black tea is called hóngchá(紅茶), meaning red tea, although in English, red tea more often refers to rooibos, an herbal tea that is not made out of the tea plant. Black tea typically stays fresh longer than green or white teas (see storing tea). Black tea also tends to contain more tannins, chemicals giving the tea its characteristic dark color.

Black tea is the most popular and widespread style of tea in the world and makes up the bulk of the world's tea production and consumption; outside of southeast asia, most of the tea produced and consumed is black tea.

Black tea is grown in many countries and comes in many styles and grades; it is hard to generalize about the flavor or aroma of black teas. It is a widespread assumption that black teas are stronger, more bitter, and more heavily caffeinated than green teas; this is not true: green teas can be quite bitter, and black teas can be mellow. The strength of tea depends both on how it is brewed and the style and grade of tea used.

The caffeine content also varies greatly from one tea to the next and depends on how the tea is brewed--and it is not safe to assume that black tea contains more caffeine than green or other types of tea. In general, black teas with more tips / leaf buds such as golden monkey are the most heavily-caffeinated of black teas, and souchongs, made out of larger leaves, are less caffeinated.

In general, black teas should be brewed with boiling water, although a few of the more delicate black teas should be brewed with water slightly below the boiling point.

Listings of this style of tea: (1021 including sub-styles - hide sub-styles)

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	Tea:	Brand:	Region:	# Ratings:
	Darjeeling Choice B.O.P.	Peet's Coffee and Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Fancy Organic	Peet's Coffee and Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling no. 37	Kusmi Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Makaibari 1st Flush	Kusmi Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling	Dilmah	Darjeeling, India	0
	Singbulli China Classic Super Fine [EX 2] 2010	Thunderbolt Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Finest Darjeeling	Jacksons of Piccadilly	Darjeeling, India	0
	Bungalow	Steven Smith Teamaker	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Makaibari	Steven Smith Teamaker	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Marybong	Steven Smith Teamaker	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Steinthal	Steven Smith Teamaker	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling 1st Flush Jungpana Black Tea	Stash Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Wood Smoke OP Black Tea	Stash Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling	BourgeaTEA	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Antique Black Tea	Stash Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Estate Golden Tipped Black Tea	Stash Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Organic Ambootia Darjeeling Black Tea	Stash Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Okayti Black Tea	Stash Tea	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Avongrove Second Flush Organic	TeaGschwendner	Darjeeling, India	0
	Darjeeling Lingia First Flush Organic	TeaGschwendner	Darjeeling, India	0

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