Some surprising black tea information is that in China, the tea that westerners know as "black" is actually called "red tea", since the liquor brews a dark red color.
However in America, folks know "red tea" as the South African herb Rooibos (or redbush). Rooibos does not come from the Camellia sinensis bush, so it is not considered tea, but instead is an herbal tea. Click here for Rooibos.
Now getting back to black tea information we learn that this tea is the most oxidized out of all the teas. While white tea is not processed at all, and oolong tea only semi-oxidized, black tea leaves are fully oxidized and turn a dark copper-like color when complete.
Black tea has a stronger, sweeter flavor that is more commonly accepted world wide, and the leaves last longer than white and green tea, that is, they hold their flavor longer.
This makes the black tea type most suitable for trade.
As you'll learn on the black tea health benefits page, black tea comes real close in the health aspects area compared to green tea. One can expect to gain the same benefits from a cup of black as with a cup of green.
Black tea is also known for all the different "blends" that it makes up.
Earl Grey tea, Lady Grey, Prince of Whales, English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, are all good examples on the blends and preparing the leaves of black tea go through to make these famous varieties.
Irish Breakfast for example, is a blend of Ceylon and Assam teas, and as you might have learned on the previous page, both these teas come from different countries.
"The milk tea”
Black tea is what I like to call the "milk tea". This is because it is the only tea type that can also be enjoyed with a splash of milk...like its opposite beverage coffee. But you'll never want to add milk in white, green, or oolong tea. It destroys their delicate flavor.
Black tea took over the role of coffee for me, so sometimes I like to add milk in it to help cool it off and give it some texture.
However some recent black tea information I just looked up taught me that adding milk may severely reduce the benefits black tea has to offer.
In the United Kingdom, most folks add milk, but it is also common to squeeze some lemon in the tea (as with Earl Grey tea). Also, the saying "black tea" refers to tea as simply plain; the way Americans refer to plain coffee as "black".
If you are a coffee drinker, but want to cut down on caffeine intake, try a cup of black tea in the mornings instead!
It'll take about a week or so to get used to the change, but you'll sure be glad you did since it is healthier. And always remember that the full true flavor lies in brewing from the whole leaf, and not tea bags.
