BLACK TEA LEAVES

Black Tea Leaves

Black tea (in Chinese 红茶) is a type of tea made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant. It is called black tea because the leaves, once harvested, undergo a particular type of processing that darkens them, giving the resulting infusion its characteristic dark red color, black tea. Black tea leaves are completely oxidized, unlike green tea, oolong tea, and white tea, which are not oxidized at all or only partially. Black tea originates from India and Sri Lanka, and these varieties are famous, although Chinese black tea is also very popular.

Black Tea for Sale Online

If you are looking for an e-shop to buy high-quality loose black tea leaves, rely on the experience of Terza Luna. Our selection of black tea online brings together all the best producers, giving you the opportunity to buy quality loose leaf tea online at the right price. You can choose between pure or flavored loose black tea and discover the different origins and cultivars of this extraordinary variety of tea leaves.

Black Tea or Green Tea?

The color designation given to tea leaves often leads to confusion about the differences between black tea and green tea. The two types of tea come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, and the differences lie in the processing. Processing is a very important process in tea production: black tea leaves, after being harvested, are macerated, dried, rolled, and crushed. In particular, in the Assam variety, the crushed leaves release special enzymes that promote fermentation. Oxidation is therefore a fundamental process to obtain black tea leaves, which does not occur in the processing of green tea, which is unoxidized. Oolong tea, on the other hand, is partially oxidized and less dark, placing it at intermediate levels of oxidation between green and black teas. The processing methods are what give black tea its particular aroma and dark color and the ability to be stored for a long time, even for years, a characteristic that historically made it very valuable.

Types of Black Tea and Varieties

Black tea is very popular in China, where it is known as “red tea” (not to be confused with Rooibos, the African red tea!) precisely because of the color that the black tea leaves turn into when infused. The name black tea, on the other hand, comes from the color of the leaves, which in China mainly refers to Pu Erh tea. The most precious black tea is pecko tea, or pekoe, which is named after the leaves from which it is obtained, the buds, the young and tender leaves of the plant, which are generally covered with a downy fuzz called "pekoe" in Chinese.

Black tea is therefore derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, but it is important to specify that there are two variants of the same plant, the Chinese plant, the sinensis subspecies also used for green tea, oolong, and white tea, and the assamica subspecies, from which Assam black tea is obtained.

The different varieties of loose-leaf black tea mainly take the name of the region or area where they are produced. You may be familiar with the famous variety of Darjeeling black tea, for example, which is named after the region, Darjeeling, where it is cultivated and produced, and where the most precious of black teas is produced, also known as the Champagne of teas.

Among the other varieties of loose-leaf black tea available for sale online in our tea and herbal shop, some of the most renowned are:

• Darjeeling Tea
• Ceylon Tea
• Assam Tea
• Nilgiri Tea
• Jun Chiyabari Tea
• Lapsang Souchong
• Keemun
• Nepali
• Sun Moon Lake
• Jin Junmei

How to Prepare Black Tea (With Loose-Leaf Black Tea)

For the preparation of black tea, it is very important to consider the right infusion times and water temperature. The different types of tea do not have the same preparation method, but require different temperatures and precautions to achieve the perfect cup. For black tea, you will need:

• 2-3 grams of loose-leaf black tea
• 250 ml of water
• Cup or Teapot
• Thermometer

You can choose from the wide range of black teas available online in our e-shop. Each black tea has its specific infusion temperature: for example, Darjeeling tea leaves generally require a slightly lower temperature. Generally, the rules are:

• Infusion Temperature: 90-100°
• Infusion Time: 4/5 minutes

After the first infusion, filter the tea leaves and serve: the leaves can be reused for a second and third infusion!

Blends and Mixes of Loose-Leaf Black Tea

Black tea is also well known for being the base of numerous blends, mixed with other plants and ingredients to create new beverages. Among the most famous blends, we certainly find Earl Grey tea, and English Breakfast Tea, both very rich and robust teas. Breakfast teas are always made from blends that include loose-leaf black tea as one of the elements, providing a strong base suitable for being enriched with milk. Loose-leaf black tea is also the base of Masala chai, which spice lovers will surely know: it is a blend of black tea leaves and spices, to which milk and sugar or honey are added, a typical Indian beverage and a true delight for the palate. Black teas are also used to create blooming teas, or blooming teas.

Properties

Black tea is generally known as the tea richest in theine (or caffeine), although this is not an absolute, as there are green teas with a much higher theine content than some black teas (find out more in the article on low theine content tea!). Taking this assumption as a general rule, we can say that black tea is a nervine drink, known for its stimulating and exciting properties. A cup of first infusion of black tea leaves can contain from 40 to 100 mg of theine (a cup of coffee contains 80!).

Black tea is also rich in theophylline, a substance used in the treatment of bronchitis and other respiratory disorders, as it helps dilate the respiratory muscles. Among its properties, the richness in theobromine, another very important substance also present in cocoa, contributes to increasing the stimulating, exciting, and diuretic effect, and helps improve concentration.

Black tea leaves also contain antioxidants, polyphenols, tannins, although to a lesser extent than green tea, which give it astringent properties.

Contraindications

Black tea does not have particular contraindications, but it is important to consume it in not excessive quantities since the caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline content could have excessively stimulating and exciting effects, causing nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. If you still want to drink black tea (in leaf form), it is important to pay attention to the infusion time: a longer infusion will produce a more intense and rich infusion. To reduce caffeine consumption, you can leave the black tea leaves to infuse a first time, for a short period, without drinking the first infusion, and use them for a second infusion that will be lighter and less theine-loaded. This method is preferable to buying a decaffeinated black tea bag, as these are often treated with chemical solvents aimed at removing the theine: the black tea for sale online in our e-shop is of the highest quality, suitable for multiple infusions that maintain the flavor and aromas of black tea.

Loose Black Tea: Where to Buy It?

We know that searching for the highest quality black tea online can be complex. At Terza Luna, you will find a wide catalog of teas from all over the world and of the best quality, including loose black tea, for sale online in this section, from organic and fair trade cultivations worldwide, personally selected by us during our travels in areas where tea is a way of life. If you are wondering: 'black tea: where to buy it?' you can purchase quality loose black tea from Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon, selected for the palates of the most passionate tea enthusiasts.