Facts About Black Tea

In all the media attention on how tea drinking can help prevent disease and, in some cases, even reverse it, black tea seems to be the least mentioned, even though it has many of the same beneficial properties that are found in green tea and white tea, and it is a relatively unknown fact that black tea come from the same plant as white and green teas, but is simply harvested and processed differently.

Black tea is actually the tea that most people think of when they think about a cup of tea and is the most common and popular tea around the world. It is also the base from which the different well-known English teas are derived from. Black tea is also the proper term that should be used when referring to the type of tea that is most frequently referred to simply as regular tea.

The Camellia sinensis is a shrub-like perennial evergreen plant that is native to certain provinces in China, but which also grows in other areas of the world, but most commonly in the Asian area. The tea is made from drying and fermenting, therefore oxidizing, the leaves of this evergreen and the result is a tea stronger in flavor than green, while or oolong classes of tea which are less oxidized.

The result is a tea that generally has a richer color, a stronger, fuller flavor, and is less astringent and bitter and so the taste is better geared toward the Western palate. In addition to more flavor, black tea also contains more caffeine than is found in the teas with less oxidation, and it is the tea most often blended with other plants and teas to create many different varieties that are enjoyed.

When referring to coffee that is served without cream or milk, the term "black" is often used. And, this muddles references to black tea at times, since blank tea could mean both the drink made from the specific tea variety, and can also refer to a tea being taken black, or without added milk. Commonly, in Britain and countries influenced by British culture, their black tea is served with milk.

It is also interesting to note that black tea is actually not black in color, but is a warm coppery red that almost seems to glow in the tea cup. In China, as well as many other Asian countries, it is actually called red tea, better reflecting it's appearance when brewed.

Tea has long been appreciated by many different cultures, and is an ancient tradition that goes back more than 5,000 years in India and China and has long been a key element to many social customs such as the Japanese tea ceremony and the tea time in Britain. Tea has also been an important commodity worldwide and for over 1,000 years it has been a major Chinese export.

Chinese black tea, according to tea authorities, has a unique quality in that over time, it becomes more mellow and results in a flavor that is deeper and richer. It is also known as the tea that has the strongest taste, and therefore is a favorite of many.