What Is Black Tea?

Black tea is the most popular tea in the world and one you should definitely have in your kitchen cupboard. It is often served with milk and is enjoyed everywhere, just like coffee. This is also called English tea as it’s basically Britain’s favorite beverage, just like coffee to North Americans.

If you are a serious tea drinker, then you probably know that all tea (except herbal tea) comes from the tea plant, camellia sinensis. This plant gives us green, white, black and oolong tea. So what is the difference between all these teas? Basically it's how the leaves are fermented. Green tea leaves are dried whereas black tea leaves are oxidized and then dried - the oxidization gives this tea its black color and it also retains its freshness for up to 3 years; much longer than green. There are many teas on the market from India, Sri Lanka and China. You will no doubt recognize such names as Darjeeling, Earl Grey (with added oil of bergamot), Assam and Ceylon. These teas can also be blended - a variety of different teas blended together by a tea master. There is also the question of quality - the lower quality leaves often being crushed into tea bags whereas premium tea leaves unfurl when you pour boiling water over them, so they release their full flavor and aroma.

This full bodied, tea comes in many flavor nuances and can be enjoyed with milk, lemon or pure. It is a wonderful tea to offer friends and family. Tea is a social drink and people gather together to enjoy it - even children like it and it's a lot healthier than soft drinks.