Black tea is one of six types of teas that come from the Camelia sinensis plant (along with green, white, and oolong teas).
You’ve most likely heard of Assam, Darjeeling, and Ceylon black tea. But, there are many other black tea varieties, even from the same tea producing country that are worth discovering.
So here are my top 11 types of black tea that you should know about (and try!).
Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!
Taste Tea Where You Are!
Taste tea on the go with my pocket size tea tasting log book on Etsy.
This printable digital download tea tasting journal also comes with a tea tasting guide inside.
First, What Is Black Tea?
Black tea is the only type of tea that goes through all 4 tea making processes: withering, rolling, oxidizing, and drying.
On top of that, to get black tea, the leaves are left to oxidize for the longest amount of time out of any tea.
Black leaves are between 90% and 95% oxidized – it’s actually a common misconception that black tea leaves are fully oxidized.
P.S. read more about the processes and the basics of tea here.
Black Tea Characteristics
For the most part, black tea leaves are distinguished by their brownish, almost black colour.
Black teas brew a beautiful red liquor. In fact, in China, black tea is actually known as red tea because of this.
I say for the most part because there’s always exceptions to the rule, as you’ll see in a bit!
You might also be interested in reading…
How Much Caffeine Does Black Tea Actually Have?
Black tea has the most caffeine compared to other types of tea. But! The amount of caffeine also varies between the types of black teas as well.
That’s because not all black tea kinds are exactly the same. They can come from slightly a different variety of Camelia sinensis bush, and have very different growing conditions. Both of these factors greatly affect the amount of caffeine a tea will have.
The caffeine in black tea varieties can range from 10 mg to 80 mg/ cup. I know, that’s a huge swing! P.S. coffee typically has around 100 mg/ cup.
But if you’re enjoying a cup of black tea brewed from a tea bag, those typically have about 40mg caffeine/ cup. Sometimes it will say how much caffeine there is on the packaging as well, but that’s not always the case.
As a rule of thumb, black tea blends (like chai and Earl grey) tend to be on the lower caffeine scale because they’re mixed with other ingredients.
Top 11 Types Of Black Tea You Should Try
These are the top 11 black tea varieties you should try, each one with a unique quality that sets them a part from other teas!
1. The Original Black Tea: Lapsang Souchong (Smoked Black Tea – China)
Lapsang Souchong is like a campfire in a cup! It’s seriously insane!
But did you know that Lapsang Souchong is technically the first black tea to be made!
Black tea was discovered in Tong Mu China as an accident. The villagers actually forgot about their tea for an entire day (leaving them to fully oxidize). Up until this point, this was not the norm.
Tea Tasting Notes & Guide
You might be interested in my digital and printable tea tasting notes & guide to take your tea tasting to the next level. See it on Etsy.
In order to stop the oxidization process, they quickly threw the leaves over the fire to dry them. And this is where you get the identifying smoked flavour of Lapsang Souchong!
Today, it’s actually very hard to find Lapsang Souchong that’s still from Tong mu.
If you aren’t a fan of smoked flavours though, you probably won’t like this type of black tea. I wouldn’t recommend this tea for your morning cup either as it can be a tad strong.
But it’s really lovely to warm up with in the afternoon, especially during the colder months!
Shop Laspang Souchong Black Tea
- A distinctive tea with unique smoky taste.
- Ingredients: Black tea, smoke.
Other places to shop online Adagio Teas | Tealyra
The Most Well Known Black Tea Varieties…
2. Assam Tea (India)
When you think of types of black tea, Assam probably immediately comes to mind. This is the quintessential black tea with rich dark tea leaves and a red liquor when brewed.
Assam tea comes from, you guessed it, Assam India. India is one of the largest tea producing regions in the world, (also known for Darjeeling Tea – but more on that next!).
Assam tea is also a very common base for most black tea blends (like English Breakfast… p.s. read more about breakfast teas here.). It has a very robust and strong flavour – perfect for your morning cup!
Shop Assam Tea
- DAILY ASSAM BLACK TEA – Elevate your mornings with our Daily Assam Black Tea. Crafted by our master…
Other places to shop online… Adagio Teas | Tealyra
3. Darjeeling Tea (India) – The Best Black Tea?
Darjeeling tea is a beast in the black tea category. Darjeeling tea is from, you guessed it, Darjeeling India. But you can actually have up to 5 different types of Darjeeling black tea.
That’s because Darjeeling tea can be harvested up to five times throughout the year. The main harvests are spring (first flush), summer (second flush), and fall (autumnal harvest).
But you can also have mid harvests between seasons as well… adding another 2 harvests.
The real kicker is that the first flush is more like green than black tea. The leaves are a dark green instead of brown, and brews a nice yellow liquor.
The second Darjeeling harvest will be darker and more amber (more of what you’re used to from a black tea).
But Darjeeling Second Flush is actually known as the Champagne of Teas because it has the most intricate and complex flavours.
And finally, the autumn harvest is the final main harvest of the year. It’s all the leftover leaves before they prepare for winter. The brew and the leaves are once again even darker than the previous harvest.
Darjeeling tea is one of the favourite types of black tea due complex flavours. This comes from the higher elevation of the tea bushes in the Himalayan mountains. Darjeeling tea has an elevation of 1850 m above sea level, compared to Assam tea which is only 300m!
P.S. Find out more about Darjeeling tea here.
4. Ceylon Tea (Sri Lanka)
Ceylon tea is from Sri Lanka, so it’s also known as Sri Lankan tea. (P.S. Sri Lanka used to be called Ceylon, so the name for their black tea just stuck!).
Tea production in Sri Lanka only started in the late 1800s from Scotsman James Taylor when he planted tea bushes in the region.
Today, Ceylon tea might just be the best black tea in the market, it’s known as the most fine and pure black tea – and it’s not a coincidence. Since 2011, there are very strict regulations to be able to say your tea is Ceylon tea.
Ceylon tea is only grown and produced in a certified region of Sri Lanka, and it has to meet certain quality standards to be marketed as Ceylon Tea.
Ceylon resembles Assam tea because it’s the same variety of Camelia sinensis bush and has a similar environment for growth. But all the standards and regulations have brought it up to another level.
Read more about the story of Ceylon tea here.
Other Notable Black Tea Kinds
Like I said, there are way more black tea varieties to discover beyond the more popular Assam, Darjeeling, and Ceylon.
You might also be interested in reading…
5. Keemun (China)
Keemun is from Qimen County in China (Keemun is simply the English spelling for Qimen).
Keemun tea known as a sweeter, more mild black tea with floral and smoky notes from China. Similar to Lapsang Souchong, Keemun tea leaves are roasted over a fire – leaving it with a smoky aroma.
Keemun is often mixed with Assam to create breakfast tea blends because it balances out the astringency of Assam tea. So you’ve most likely had Keemun tea without even realizing it!
Read more about Keemun black tea here.
Shop Keemun Tea
- Keemn black tea is one of the best-known black teas in the world, and is often used within other blends and fusions to create a new and exciting taste and fragrance.
Other places to shop online… Adagio Teas | Tealyra
6. Nilgiri Tea A.K.A Blue Mountains Tea (India)
Nilgiri Tea comes from the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu, India. It’s also known as Blue Mountain Tea (a popular nickname for the Nilgiri Mountain range).
It’s no surprise that when I went out to taste all the black tea varieties, Nilgiri tea was my favourite.
As it turns out, Nilgiri Tea is known as one of the most balanced types of black tea. It has a nice blend of fruity, nutty, and floral notes and features almost no astringency.
This sweetness profile is also what makes it a popular choice for iced teas (p.s. see how to make iced tea at home here).
The balanced flavours are in part due to the unbeatable climate and soil on the mountains. Go more in depth into Nilgiri Tea here.
Shop Nilgiri Tea
- NILGIRI BREAKFAST BLACK TEA – Elevate your mornings with our Nilgiri Breakfast Black Tea. Harvested from the elevated Nilgiri mountains, this exceptional loose-leaf Black tea boasts a mellow, full-bodied profile that pairs seamlessly with your breakfast. With medium caffeine content, it’s an excellent choice for any time of the day. Enjoy its versatility – savor it as it is or customize with milk. Immerse yourself in the exotic flavors of Nilgiri and redefine your tea experience.
7. Yunnan Da Ye A.K.A. Dian Hong (China)
Yunnan is a province in China known for producing Pu’erh (more on that in a bit). But there’s another unique tea from Yunnan known as Golden Yunnan tea, or Dian Hong in China.
Dian Hong translates to Yunnan Red Tea (remember in China, black tea is referred to as red tea).
It’s easy to distinguish Dian Hong from other types of black tea because it has golden yellow tips. Typically, the more yellow, the higher the quality of the tea leaves.
The yellow part of the tea leaves are actually buds, which is why they have a different colour.
Golden Yunnan tea will be on the lighter and sweeter side of black teas. It also has a much more yellow colour when brewed.
Read more about Yunnan black tea here.
Shop Yunnan De Tea
- Our Yunnan Golden Special is an organic black tea grown and cultivated by craft tea farmers with a distinguished history going back for many generations.
- Yunnan Golden Special is cultivated at the highest altitudes in a cool climate that is home to natural woodland, it is harvested between the end of March and the middle of April.
Other places to shop online… Adagio Teas | Tealyra
8. Fermented Black Tea: Pu’erh
As I said, Pu’erh originates from the province of Yunnan in China. But! No two Pu’erhs are the same.
Not only do you have different elevation levels and climates affecting the taste of the tea, but now another factor is added in: aging (i.e. fermentation).
Tthe main thing to know about Pu’erh tea is that it’s an aged tea. It can be aged for as little as a few months, to over 100 years!
You can usually spot Pu’erh right away because the tea is tightly packed into a circular form, known as a tea cake.
Several factors in the aging process affects the flavours of the tea. Obviously, there’s how long it was aged for, but also how the tea is stored over the years.
Interested In Tea Tasting? Get The Tea Tasting Bundle!
Refine your tea palette with my Tea Tasting Guide and take notes on every new tea you try to remember for next time in my Tea Tasting Journal.
Because Pu’erh tea is fermented, it has a much stronger taste than any other types of black tea. It can even have marine, or manure aromas – which isn’t exactly a pleasant smell ,I know.
But don’t let the smell deter you, the taste usually doesn’t taste anything like the smell! The taste will be earthier and more robust.
If you’re looking for a solid coffee replacement though, this is the black tea I’d recommend because Pu’erh tends to be on the higher caffeine scale (see more coffee alternatives in my post here).
As an added bonus, Pu’erh tea also has its own set of health benefits due to the aging process.
Interested in find out more about Pu’erh tea, click here.
Popular Types of Black Tea Blends
9. Breakfast Tea
Yup! That English breakfast tea you love is actually a black tea blend. There can be two to even three types of black tea blended together in your English Breakfast.
The different combinations of black teas used, and the amounts of each, are how you get different kinds of breakfast blends like Irish Breakfast and Scottish Breakfast.
Read more about breakfast blends in my post here.
10. Earl Grey Tea – Types of Black Tea Blend
Earl grey tea is quite possibly the MOST popular tea blend (if not the best black tea blend) out there!
In fact, Earl grey tea is what introduced me to the world of tea in the first place (and continues to be my go-to pick me up blend!).
No one is really sure where Earl grey tea got it’s name from, but it’s known for its bergamot flavouring. Traditional Earl grey tea is simply a blend of black tea and bergamot.
Bergamot is a citrus from Italy that’s somewhat of a mix between an orange and a lemon.
Today though, most Earl grey teas will use natural flavouring… but I finally found an Earl Grey Tea that uses REAL bergamot! Check out Firebelly’s Shade of Earl Grey here. And let me tell you, it’s delicious! Every Earl grey should go back to this standard!
Love Earl Grey Tea!?
Then you have to try Firebelly Shades of Earl Grey – it uses REAL bergamot! Check it out here!
11. Masala Chai – Black Tea Blend
Chai tea is another very popular type of black tea blend, this time from India. It actually translates to ‘mixed spices tea‘ in Hindi.
It traditionally mixes black tea with spices like cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper. It’s common to mix Chai tea with milk turning it into a chai tea latte!
How Do You Brew Black Tea?
Black tea is brewed with boiling water. That’s because you need the hottest water to really release all the flavours from this oxidized tea.
But, be sure to check your specific tea for brewing instructions for the exact temperature of water, amount of tea per water, and the time of infusion.
Because of it’s strong flavours, most black tea varieties can be combined with milk and sugar – but there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying it on it’s own!
You might also be interested in reading…
Shop Black Teas On Amazon
My Black Tea Must Haves To Brew The Perfect Cup
You can make black tea like you make any other tea!
Some basics you’ll need is a good kettle, your favourite mug, and a steeper if you’re using loose leaf tea. You’ll of course also need some tea!
Quick Links – My Amazon Tea Favourites
Read More Related Posts
- A Closer Look At Darjeeling Tea & Why It Might Be The Best
- Tea Basics: The Different Types Of Teas Explained
- How To Make Tea – Brew The Perfect Cup Every Time!
- English, Irish & Scottish Breakfast Tea: How Are They Different?
Click Image To Share Or Save This Post
Last update on 2024-05-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API