Black tea is one of the most well-known types of tea — almost everybody knows it. It’s being consumed majorly in the West due to its strong and bold flavours. Everything from English Breakfast to Earl Grey, all of the various varieties of black tea are in high demand all the time. The people drink black tea not just because of how delicious it tastes but also of its fruitful benefits and uses. Discover the multiple origins of black tea and what it actually encompasses!
Table of Contents
What is Black Tea?
Just like other types of tea, black tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The only difference, which is the most significant one, is that the black tea leaves are fully oxidised before being processed. This technique is the reason behind black tea’s bold, signature flavour that everyone knows and loves.
While it is called “black” tea, it may not necessarily be black. Depending on the oxidation and processing, the black tea leaves can be anywhere from amber to dark brown. While its main notable taste is astringent, it can sometimes be described as smoky, earthy and even metallic.
There’s one common misconception about black tea and that it all tastes the same. Even though they have strong flavours, the difference in the flavours are still quite prominent. Some factors like where it’s grown, the climate it grew in, if there were any other chemical treatments involved and whether or not the leaves were left whole or cut into smaller pieces can affect the taste.
Oxidation in Black Tea
How black tea achieves its distinct flavour is through the oxidation part of the production process like heat-processing and drying. The leaves are left to fully oxidise before they are brought to the other parts of the production process. During oxidation, the oxygen interacts with the cell walls of the tea plant and turns the colours of the leaves darker, which also alters the flavour profiles of the tea leaves.
The Processing of Black Tea
There are generally two ways of processing black tea. The first method is more time-consuming and it is known as the orthodox method. In this method, the tea leaves stay whole or even only partially broken down before rolled in a few different ways to bruise the leaves. They are then oxidised fully and then fired to stop the oxidation, and then graded for quality.
The other method is known as the non-orthodox method, or CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl). This is a faster way of processing as the leaves are cut into finer pieces so that they can oxidise quicker. These smaller pieces can easily fit into commercial tea bags, which seems to be more popular than loose tea leaves in the current tea market.
Origins of Black Tea
Black tea was first discovered in China in the 17th century. It was then brought over to Europe and the Middle East. Because it was the first ever type of tea to be introduced to the region, the popularity of black tea soared sky high, and there was a leap in demand for black tea, especially from England. The English consumed tea like it was water.
In the 1800s, a different type of black tea was discovered from the Camellia sinensis assamica tea plant in the Assam region of India. This type of black tea was far more suited for the bold, hearty flavour palates of the Europeans and it soon became in high demand as well. At that time, India was under the British colony. Not long after this discovery, the English started planting black tea plants in the Darjeeling region of India to further increase the production of black tea.
For quite some time, quality wasn’t much of an importance for the consumers of black tea. It was more to meet the demands, hence mass production was prioritised. However, consumers learned more and more about the world of tea and that began the demand for artisan and premium loose tea leaves.
Types of Black Tea
Assam
India’s Assam region is undoubtedly the largest region in the world for tea-growing. The black tea from here has extremely bold and malty characteristics that the Europeans, especially the English, love due to the rainy weather in the tropical climate. It’s extremely ideal when combined with milk and sugar.
Ceylon
Ceylon tea is a specific type of black tea to Sri Lanka, and the country’s economy depends on its tea gardens that take up more than half a million acres. These tea gardens can be found everywhere from the cool, mountainous regions to the humid, tropical ones. Ceylon black tea can be identified with its hint of spice in its flavours.
Darjeeling
The black teas that are produced in Darjeeling, India can vary from season to season. They can be found in the mountainous region. During spring, the harvested black teas are lighter in flavour while the ones later in the year can be fruity and sweet. Darjeeling black tea is more known for being the tea base to India’s spiced drink known as Chai.
Kenyan
The Kenyan black tea only entered the black tea industry in the early 1900s, and considered a late addition to the family. Despite that, its production has caught up to that of other tea production countries and churns out CTC style of black tea. Kenyan black tea has a full-bodied flavour, dark and astringent.
Keemun
While still maintaining the bold flavours of the black tea, the Keemun black tea has a unique accent flavour. It has a fruity and floral essence that’s more mellow and smooth. Sometimes it can also be described as having a tobacco or piney aroma.
Nilgiri
Unlike the other strong-flavoured black teas, Nilgiri black tea is a more medium-bodied type. There’s a subtle sweetness in its aroma and can be considered more fragrant and floral. Nilgiri black tea is best suited for making iced teas.
Yunnan
The Yunnan black tea is grown in the higher grounds of the province. While there is sometimes a hint of spice in the black tea, it’s nothing like the Assam black tea. There’s also a chocolatey and malf essence to the Yunnan black tea.
Benefits of Black Tea
Black tea’s popularity didn’t just come from the bold, significant flavours. There are countless of benefits of black tea, which is why it has captured the hearts of many. The contents in black tea brings out the best parts of our bodies and promotes healthy functioning. Here are some of the top few benefits of black tea.
Cancer Prevention
The most-studied benefit of black tea is its effectiveness in preventing cancer. The polyphenols in black tea can help in stopping the formation and continual growth of carcinogens in the body, which can cause certain types of cancer including ovarian cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer.
There’s also a compound in black tea called the TF-2. This chemical can eliminate cancer cells without causing harm to normal cells. Black tea can also prevent cancer by preventing the formation of malignant tumours and even stop the growth if it already exists.
Energy Boost
The caffeine content in black tea gives the consumer an energy boost by increasing brain function and alertness. The caffeine in black tea is not the type that stimulates the muscles, there is also a naturally occuring chemical called L-theophylline that works the heart, respiratory system and kidneys, hence there’s an even distribution of the caffeine impact from black tea.
Improves Digestive Health
Black tea has the most number of tannins in other types of tea. Tannins are compounds in the tea that are excellent at soothing any stomach issues like diarrhea, gastric and intestinal illnesses. Hence, the tannins in black tea promotes the healthy digestive system as it aids all sorts of digestion and activities.
Assist Cardiovascular Health
Black tea has a large number of antioxidants in its content. One of them is flavonoids and is known to lower the risk of issues to the heart by promoting cardiac muscle function preventing LDL cholesterol to be oxidized and promoting healthy bloodstream and artery walls.
Uses of Black Tea
Black tea has become more than just a consumption drink. For some, black tea is a staple drink for breakfast, while for the English, it is an essential during tea time. Black teas have been paired with all sorts of cuisine like Western, Indian, Thai and African. Its strong flavours are perfect for such strong tastes of these cuisines.
Caffeine Content in Black Tea
There are many factors that can affect the caffeine content of black tea including the processing method of the tea leaves and how the tea is brewed. But in general, black tea has about 50mg to 90mg of caffeine in a cup. Black tea has the most caffeine content compared to the other types of tea, but still less caffeine than a proper brewed cup of coffee.
Preparation of Black Tea
Black teas come in both tea bags and loose tea leaves. They’re best stored in a dark, cool area like a drawer or cabinet. If stored properly, black tea has a long shelf life. Exposure to light can damage the tea hence it’s best to not keep it in glass jars or transparent casings.
Depending on your type of black tea, there are different brewing times and ideal temperature. Generally, these are great preparation tips to note for black tea
- Black tea is best brewed for longer at higher temperatures.
- Cover your tea when you’re steeping it.
- Make sure to steep for an ideal period of time. If it exceeds, more of the bitterness and astringency will be released. Give it a taste to see if it suits your taste palates before prolonging the steeping process.
- Don’t put in too much water for your cup of tea. Generally, it is 8oz for 2 grams of tea.
Risks & Side Effects of Black Tea
There’s always a downside to every upside. While there are various good aspects of black tea, it’s important to take note of its risk and side effects so as to prevent any unnecessary consequences and risks.
Interactions with other drugs and supplements
The contents of black tea may interact with a range of supplements and medications including antibiotics. Those who are on medication should seek advice from their doctor on whether or not it’s okay to consume black tea as there is caffeine and other reactive contents in it.
Anemia
As black tea has quite an abundance of tannins, it can affect the body’s ability to absorb iron, hence leading to anemia. Those with a history of iron deficiency should seek advice from doctors or avoid taking black tea with iron supplements or iron-rich meals. Leave some time in between so that the black tea won’t affect your iron absorption.
Caffeine Effects
Black tea has quite a level of caffeine compared to other types of tea. This may bring about undesired effects to those who are sensitive to caffeine like insomnia, anxiety or irritability. Some may experience discomfort in the stomach when taking caffeine on an empty stomach. In these situations, limit the intake of black tea or take precautions while drinking it.
Black tea has a long and rich history that no other can challenge. Its benefits far outweighs its downsides, and it’s no secret that the world loves their dose of a bold, strong and flavourful cup of black tea. Whether it is a tea bag or loose tea leaves, full-bodied or light, fruity or spicy, there’s definitely a type of black tea for you!
→Top 15 Best Green Tea Brands in the World!
→The 15 Best Tea Brands in the World
→English Breakfast Tea Benefits, Best Brands and More !
→8 Benefits and Top Brands of the Legendary Earl Grey Tea
→10 Must-Have American Tea Brands in Your Pantry
→The Best 15 Iced Tea Brands in the World
