Top 5 Black Tea Bags and Reviews on Taste and Health

These are the top five black teas that are in tea bags. Tea bags are a favorite simply because of their convenience.

Some people like their black tea in the morning to wake up their senses, and some people like their black tea after dinner to like a scrumptious dessert, and some people like to drink tea all day long to get a good caffeine fix. Whatever your tea drinking style is, a good black tea will be both strong and smooth at the same time.

A good black tea will not be so acidic that it gives you heart burn.

Here are my top five picks for black tea:

1. PG Tips Black Tea, Pyramid Tea Bags. This black tea is superb. It comes in a box of 24 bags which are actually pyramid shaped tea bags which supposedly allows more room (surface area) for the tea flavor to soak through). On the down side you need to spoon out the bag when you are done brewing, not as convenient as a tagged bag. This black tea is England's number-one black tea and is made from a blend of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan black teas. It can be found online from a few retailers including Amazon. This black tea is robust and hearty and almost as hard a kick as good coffee. The pyramid shaped bags are probably large enough to make a larger than 8 ounce cup of tea since they pack a lot of flavor and strength. Because this is a powerful black tea, it can handle sweetener and milk if you so desire. No bitter taste, no acidic taste, no after taste, just good premium tasting black tea. If you like PG Tips Black Tea then you can be 100% certain you DO like black tea! The name PG Tips comes from the fact that this black tea is made with plantation fresh tips, or the top two leaves and a bud which are known as the tips.

2. Lipton Black Tea, Black Pearl Pure Long Leaf, Premium Pyramid Tea . This tea comes in bags also shaped like pyramids. Of course when you think tea, the name Lipton usually comes to mind so it is no surprise the Lipton folks have their tea products down. Like the other fine black teas, Lipton boasts the leaves are hand picked and Lipton says the source of their black tea comes from being grown on the highest-elevation tea estates in Sri Lanka. All I know is this is good black tea. It steeps quickly and is strong yet smooth. On the downside, there are no tags. As a result, you have to pull the pyramid bag out of your cup with a spoon. Pyramid shaped bags are best used at home. They don't travel as well as the individually wrapped tagged tea bags. This tea is economical, and not quite as strong tasting as the Good Earth China Black Tea. However the Lipton is better received among the general unseasoned tea drinker. If you like strong black tea you will need to let this steep a little longer than other brands, but it is worth the wait for the low price and premium taste.

3. Good Earth Teas, China Black Tea, sold in a box of 20 Bags and available online at several retailers or at many natural food grocery stores. This black tea brews quickly, is smooth yet rich and also tastes great either with sugar or without. The tea bags are individually wrapped for freshness which is also a plus when traveling and taking along some extra tea for work. China Black Tea is a premium caffeinated tea with a rich, dark color, and exotic oriental aroma and flavor. Good Earth China Black Tea contains no artificial flavors or colors. It is also a Natural Source of Antioxidants.

4. Stash Premium Double Spice Chai Black Tea. This tea is easier to find on line than in the local store. The box has 18 tea bags. This black tea is wonderfully unique because it has a kick of Indian spices... a mixture of tastes of black tea with ginger and nutmeg and cloves or cardamom spice taste with a hint of cinnamon. If you like Indian "ice cream" also known as kulfi then you will recognize the taste of cardamom spice. The tea bags are individually wrapped in elegant foil bags. This tea can be served iced, but you will need to double the strength, but I think it tastes better hot. You don't need to add milk or cream or half and half to make it "Chai" like the coffee shops. It does taste good with a hint of sweetener but I prefer it without any milk products or milk substitutes. This tea is the priciest of the top 5 black teas reviewed here and I don't regard it as an everyday black tea but more as an occasional brunch or dessert treat. Another plus is the very strong aroma which makes drinking it extra pleasurable.

5. Bigelow Earl Grey Tea. Earl Grey is a good strong tea in the black tea family and Bigelow which is common place at most grocery stores and very inexpensive really is an excellent tasting affordable tea. It is smooth yet satisfying and quickly gives you the caffeine kick you need. Bigelow Earl Grey Tea is a gluten free black tea, is consistent tasting, aromatic but not as aromatic as the straight up black teas or the spiced black teas. For someone new to black tea, Earl Grey is a good start and Bigelow is as fina choice as any other to introduce the black tea flavor before moving on to more heavy duty strengths and richness. Bigelow Earl Grey tea is individually wrapped in lovely handy bags and easy to travel with. Brews quickly and also tastes good with sweetener and milk. This Earl Grey is a rich black tea flavored with natural bergamot and like most black teas it is considered an excellent antioxidant. This black tea is mild enough to drink throughout the day. This black tea is not acidic at all.