What is Black Tea Black tea is made from highly oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves. The tea leaves acquire thearubigins and theaflavins through oxidation. These components are responsible for the color and flavor of black tea. Infused black tea actually has a reddish color, not black. In China, it is called Hong Cha, which means red tea in English.
Whereas green tea is the most popular tea variety in the East, in the West black tea is the most popular. The popularity of black tea to people in the western part of the world is believed to be due to its long shelf life and strong flavor. In general, the caffeine content of a cup of black tea is 60 to 90 mg. The caffeine content is determined by several factors, including steeping time and water temperature. Blended teas tend to contain less caffeine because of the added ingredients that are caffeine-free.
History of Black Tea It is a known fact that black tea originated from China. However, there is no record of the exact date and place that the tea was first made. Even though there are no records, several stories about the origin of black tea exist. According to one of these stories, black tea was first made in Wuyi Mountains during the Ming Dynasty. In those times, only compressed teas were made in Wuyi Mountains. When the emperor ordered tea producers to make loose leaf tea, what they came up with was loose black tea leaves that turned the liquid red when infused. Black tea was the first tea variety that was brought to the west. Because the western people liked it, the production of black tea in China increased. The popularity of black tea soon led some English and Scottish people to take tea seeds and plants from China and bring them to other countries. These days, black tea is produced in other countries such as India, Vietnam, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and Kenya.
Sources of Black Tea
China and India are the main producers of high quality black tea. Most handmade black teas are from China. Turkey and Kenya are also big suppliers of black tea. Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand are among the main sources of commercial grade black tea. Japan and England have also started to produce small quantities of black tea.
How Black Tea Is Produced Black tea is produced through the following steps: 1. Harvesting: Tea leaves are harvested either by hand or by using a machine. 2. Drying: The leaves are left to wither to reduce their moisture content. 3. Rolling: The leaves are rolled by hand or by using a machine. Essential oils are released when the leaves are rolled. 4. Oxidation: At this stage, the essential oils are exposed to air, causing the leaves to change their color, scent, and flavor. 5. Firing or Baking: Tea leaves are exposed to high temperature to dry and to stop oxidizing. 6. Packing: The processed tea leaves are packed and labeled.
Optional Step: Blending: Done before packing. This is done for blended black tea.
How to Steep Black Tea Steeping black tea is very easy. It can be infused in hot water, also called hot brew; or in cold water, also called cold brew. 
Hot-brewed Black Tea
1. Heat water until it is almost boiling. 2. Put tea leaves in the water. Put one teaspoon of black tea leaves per cup of water 3. Steep for two minutes. 
Cold-brewed Black Tea
1. 2. 3. 4.
Pour tea leaves into a vessel containing cold water. Put the vessel in the refrigerator. Let the tea leaves steep for up to eight hours. Strain to separate the tea leaves.
Flavors of Black Tea In general, black teas have an astringent flavor, but the flavor may also vary. The flavor of black tea varies depending on the place they came from and the season in which they were harvested. The characteristics of the environment in which the tea plant is grown and harvested affect the taste, and even the scent, of the tea. An example of this is the difference in the taste of Darjeeling teas that are harvested in spring and fall. The tea harvested in spring has a light flavor that is almost similar to green tea. The fall-harvested Darjeeling tea, on the other hand, has a fruity taste. Black teas that have a very strong flavor are meant to be blended with flavoring agents such as sugar, honey, and milk.
Types of Black Tea There are many types of black tea. Some are purely made with tea leaves while others are blended with other natural ingredients. 1. Unblended Black Tea
Lapsang Souchong: Made in Fujian, China. It has a smoky taste. Keemun: Made in Anhui, China. It is a popular black tea that has a fruity scent and flavor. Tibeti: Made in Sichuan, China. Also known as brick tea. Dian Hong: Made in Yunnan, China. Has a malty taste. Assam: Made in Assam, India. Has a strong and malty flavor. Nilgiri: Made in Nilgiri Hills in India. Has a fragrant and floral scent and flavor. Darjeeling: Made in Darjeeling, India. Has a floral scent and fruity taste. Ceylon: Made in Sri Lanka. Can have a light or strong taste and scent, depending on the altitude in the place where the tea plants are harvested from.
2. Blended Black Tea
Earl Grey: Blended with bergamot oil. Masala Chai: Blended with several varieties of spices.
3. Iced Black Tea Iced black tea is another type of this tea. It is the most popular type of black tea in the United States. Its popularity is mainly due to convenience. It is available in bottles and cans, and can be easily bought in convenience stores, grocery stores, and even in cafes and restaurants.
Iced black teas can be sweetened or unsweetened. Popular flavorings to iced black tea aside from sugar are honey, mint, and lemon.
Health Benefits of Drinking Black Tea Black tea is an energy booster. Drinking this tea is an effective way to stay alert and focused. It has the highest amount of caffeine among the tea varieties. It also has theophylline which is a stimulator. It increases heart rate. Aside from being an energy booster, black tea effectively prevents the following health problems:
DNA damage Many types of cancer Heart diseases Parkinson’s disease Type 2 diabetes Osteoporosis Kidney stones.
Risks of Drinking Black Tea In general, there are no risks in drinking black tea. However, because of its generally high caffeine content, it is not advisable to drink more than four cups of black tea per day. ****************************************************************** http://www.pandadungtea.com/what-is-black-tea/ Panda Tea or Panda Dung Tea is a type of organic tea cultivated in the mountains of Ya'an, Sichuan and fertilized by the dung of pandas. Panda Dung Tea is grown without the use of any synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Green Tea
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