The most popular type of tea worldwide is black tea. It is well-liked in both Eastern and Western nations and essential in the preparation of many traditional blends or drinks, including morning blends and milky teas. In this article, you'll learn about the most popular types of black tea and the differences between them.
What Varieties of Black Tea are Available?
Black tea, a fully-oxidized tea, is produced from the Camellia sinensis plant. There are countless varieties of black tea, just like there are of green tea. Most of the time, black teas are categorized by region and nation of origin. Additionally, they can be separated into several groups based on the season of harvest, the methods of production, and the quality of the leaves. Here is a breakdown of the types of black teas by region.
India, Sri Lanka, and China produce the most renowned and widely consumed black teas. However, many other nations, such as Australia, England, and the United States, are also producers of black tea today.
Indian Black Teas
India is one of the greatest and most prominent producers of tea in the world, and it is particularly known for its Assam and Darjeeling varieties.
The most well-known tea in the world is Assam, which comes from the Assamica plant. There are nonetheless countless Assam teas, each with its flavor profile. In general, they tend to be strong, full-bodied, and malty. Making milky teas is ideal with Assam tea. It is robust, simple to brew, and pairs nicely with milk and sugar.
Darjeeling tea, also known as the champagne of tea, is produced in Darjeeling, India. It is made from Camellia sinensis. It brews into a lighter cup and has a distinct muscatel flavor with flowery undertones.
Sri Lankan Teas
Up until the 1970s, Ceylon served as Sri Lanka's colonial name. However, Sri Lankan teas are still frequently referred to as Ceylon tea today.
Sri Lankan or Ceylon tea is known for its lighter but more robust, crisp flavor, frequently with floral undertones. Ceylon teas can be grown at various elevations. They typically have a lighter orange hue and could also be bitter.
Like all other genuine teas, Ceylon teas are produced from the Camellia sinensis tea plant. However, Ceylon has its own unique tea cultivars, that when accompanied by the region's terrain and production techniques, produce a distinctive flavor from other black teas.
They are most commonly found in breakfast teas like the Bohemian breakfast probiotic black tea, which improves clarity and digestion, and elevates one’s mood. Another great option is the calming Gypsy rose black tea, which blends rose petals with Biodynamically Grown Sri Lankan black teas grown from the highest altitude tea garden.
Chinese Teas
Some of the best black teas in the world come from China, the birthplace of tea. Many of them are widely used and have a very long and rich history.
A unique variety of Chinese black tea called lapsang souchong is produced in the Fujian province's Wuyi region. Lapsang souchong can be smoked or unsmoked, but the traditionally smoked kind is unlike any other tea in the world due to its unmistakable pine wood smoke flavor and aroma. This tea pairs well with desserts and is ideal as an afternoon tea.
With its wide variety of options and universally acclaimed taste, black tea is perfect to add to your daily routine!
