Black Tea is the most processed tea on our list. To understand why you just need to look at its processing routine: Harvested, withered, rolled, oxidized, and dried. Its color arises throughout the rolling process when leaf enzymes react with oxygen.
Its vast popularity has not served to make the tea any less revered. In fact, some would argue that its high caffeine content is one reason for its dominance.
Visual profile
Range in color from amber to red to dark brown, evoking woody comparisons.
Flavor
Savory to sweet, depending on how long it was oxidized and what heat processing method sued. Distinctly dark and malty taste, similar to a light beer without the alcohol or acidity.
Aromas
Fruity, with hints of pine, dried plum, and floweriness. Some also claim to detect peppery afternotes in the vapors of black tea.
Varieties
- Darjeeling black tea
- Assam Black Tea
- Ceylon Black Tea
- Earl Grey Tea
- Scottish, English, or Irish Black Tea
The health benefits of Black Tea
Doubt is regularly cast over Black Tea’s health benefits compared to the other teas on this list. However, its brew contains powerful groups of polyphenols, including epigallocatechin gallate, theaflavins, thearubigins, an amino acid L-theanine – all of which are essential to the body’s core functions.
How to serve Black Tea
While Black Tea can be served alone, it’s most commonly associated with milk, sugar, and sometimes honey.