Black Tea

Our organic loose leaf black teas range from bold breakfast brews to fragrant afternoon cups. Start the day with Organic English Breakfast Tea or the extra-malty Assam Black Tea, try bright, citrusy Ceylon Black Tea plain or iced, or unwind with Earl Grey Creme. New to loose leaf? Read our guide to the types of black tea.

Packed To Order · Smithfield, Virginia

How to Choose a Loose Leaf Black Tea

Black tea is fully oxidized, which gives it a dark copper cup, a bold, malty flavor and the most caffeine of any tea. The biggest differences between black teas come from where they are grown and whether anything is added. Here is how ours compare.

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Whole or large-cut leaf

Brews a fuller, smoother cup than the fine dust in most tea bags.

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A named origin

Our single-origin teas say where they are from: Assam in India, or the Sri Lankan highlands for Ceylon.

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Nothing hidden

Unflavored teas are just tea. Our Earl Grey Creme lists its bergamot oil and vanilla bean.

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Fresh, small batches

Packed to order rather than stored for months in a warehouse.

Choose a Black Tea by Taste

All of our black teas are above. Here they are grouped by how they taste and how people tend to drink them.

Bold & Malty

Strong morning cups that stand up to milk and sugar.

Bright & Brisk

Lighter, livelier and excellent iced.

Fragrant & Smooth

Scented black tea for an afternoon cup or a London Fog.

How to Brew Black Tea

Plain

1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz of water just off the boil (200–212°F). Steep 3–4 minutes, then strain.

With milk

Use a heaping teaspoon and steep the full 4–5 minutes so the tea stands up to the milk.

Iced or sweet tea

Brew double-strength (2 teaspoons per 8 oz, 4 minutes), sweeten while hot if you like, then pour over ice.

Stovetop milk tea

Simmer 2 teaspoons of Assam in 1 cup of water for 2–3 minutes, add ¾ cup of milk and sugar, bring back to a simmer and strain.

Good to Know

  • Caffeine: black tea has roughly 40–70 mg per 8 oz cup, about half a cup of coffee. A shorter steep gives a gentler cup.
  • Bitterness usually means the tea steeped too long. Add more leaf for strength rather than more time.
  • Storage: keep black tea in an airtight tin away from light, heat and strong smells. It is at its brightest in the first year.
  • Prefer no caffeine? Try our naturally sweet Honeybush, the closest caffeine-free match to black tea.

Black Tea FAQ

What is black tea?

Tea from the Camellia sinensis plant that has been rolled and fully oxidized before drying. That gives it a darker color, bolder flavor and more caffeine than green, white or oolong tea.

Which black tea is best with milk?

Malty, full-bodied teas like Assam and English Breakfast. Ceylon is lighter and lovely plain or with lemon.

Black tea vs. green tea: what is the difference?

Both come from the same plant. Black tea is fully oxidized; green tea is heated right after picking to stop oxidation, so it stays lighter, grassier and lower in caffeine.

What are the main types of black tea?

Single-origin teas named for where they grow, such as Assam and Ceylon; blends such as English Breakfast; and flavored teas such as Earl Grey. Read our guide to the types of black tea.

How long should I steep black tea?

3 to 5 minutes in water just off the boil. About 3 minutes for a smoother cup, 5 for a stronger one.