Collection: Loose leaf black tea

FAQs

Is drinking black tea good for you?

All tea comes from the Camelia sinensis tea plant, so black, Oolong, green and white teas share many of the same health benefits. Evidence has credited drinking tea regularly with everything from aiding digestion and boosting metabolism, to lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of disease, including preventing some cancers.   

Is black tea the same as regular tea?

Black tea is the best known and most widely consumed type of tea in the West. Other types of tea include white tea, green tea, Oolong tea and herbal tea.
Black teas are defined as fully-oxidised, meaning they tend to have darker, more robust flavours. So-called 'breakfast' teas are usually black teas as their rich flavour is well-suited to a drop of milk. 

Is black tea better than green tea?

Both black and green tea are appreciated by tea drinkers around their world for their distinct flavours, with the main difference coming down to processing. While black tea is actively encouraged to oxidise to develop dark, robust flavours, green tea is steamed or fired after the leaves are plucked to prevent oxidation, resulting in a greener, more floral character. In our opinion, no one tea is 'better' than the other. It simply comes down to personal preference and what you're looking for in a tea! 
Find out more about black teas.

Can I drink black tea at night?

You can enjoy drinking tea at any time of day or night. Although black tea does contain caffeine, depending on your sensitivity, it can be enjoyed before bed and even have a calming effect. If you're concerned about caffeine consumption at night, you can find out more about caffeine levels in your cup of tea.
How do you make the perfect cup of black tea?
To make the perfect cup of black tea, you need two things:
1) Good quality black tea leaves
2) Good water
It then comes down to the brewing, which is specific to each tea. As a general rule of thumb Black tea should be brewed in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Find out more about the importance of good water and how to make loose leaf tea.

Does black tea contain more caffeine than other types of tea?

Determining the caffeine level in any individual tea or tea type is not straightforward. The caffeine level will depend on:
The properties of the leaf
The amount of tea used
The temperature of the water used to brew
The length of the infusion
Find out more about how much caffeine is in tea.