What are Black Teas?
Answer:
Black teas would be the equivalent of dark roast
coffee beans or stout beers made from dark roasted hops and barley. Black teas are allowed to ferment, actually oxidize or rust, longer than other "colors" of tea such as green or white. Black teas look more crimson than black in the cup, but the leaves themselves are dark in color.

When tea leaves are harvested, they are first treated with a constant flow of air to begin the drying and cleaning process.  Tea leaves which are destined to become black tea varieties are left out in the open air longer, which causes them to oxidize and darken in the same way an exposed apple will eventually turn brown. 

Once the tea leaves have reached a certain level of fermentation or oxidation, they are dried in a kiln or commercial dryer to stop the oxidation process.  The result is dark tea leaves which will yield a brewed tea noticeably stronger than oolong or green teas. 

Blocks of black tea were once used as currency, and some have even used black tea to dye clothing.  Darjeeling and Ceylon are two of the most popular varieties of pure black teas, but there are also black tea blends with familiar names such as Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast and English Breakfast.

Earl Grey is a black tea blend which contains bergamot, while Irish Breakfast is a blend of several different black teas.  English Breakfast is a black tea designed to blend well with milk and sugar, a traditional English approach to morning tea.

Black teas can be found in bag form, although many tea enthusiasts strongly suggest purchasing loose leaf black teas containing only whole or broken leaves for maximum flavor.  Unlike green or oolong teas, black teas can be brewed in hotter water for a longer period of time without affecting the flavor adversely.
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written by Eugene , April 25, 2009

Black tea is a powerful source of anti-oxidants that slow down the aging process and prevent a wide variety of diseases. It has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, providing protection against tooth decay and infection as well as relief from arthritis. Try http://www.talbottteas.com/ for true tea indulgence.


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