Black tea is one of the most popular teas – perhaps the most popular – and you have likely had it in one way or the other, even if you’re not aware of it. The reason for this is that black tea is almost always the kind used in sweet tea and iced tea, as well as other drinks (both hot and cold) containing tea. If you have made it this far, then you are probably looking to purchase some black tea of your own.
To simply grab a box from the shelf of black teas at the supermarket may seem easy, but there are a few things to consider first if you want to get the best kind. These are some of the best black tea products in terms of flavor, aroma, and overall quality.
View The Best Black Tea Below
1. FGO Organic English Breakfast Black Tea Bags
Say yes to this USDA certified organic Assam tea and experience a black tea blend packed with flavor! It’s one of those Assam black tea blends you can’t get enough of once you’ve served yourself that first cup, and it only takes a few minutes to make. This black tea is packed in California, and the individual bags are made of Abacá Hemp Fiber Paper, which is a material free from any glue, dyes, adhesives, and chlorine bleach, to give you a 100% natural tea drinking experience.
Pros:
+ Assam tea blend
+ Certified Organic by the USDA
+ Abacá Hemp Fiber Paper teabags
+ Packed in California
Why We Like It – The full-bodied flavor tea is made with premium tea leaves. It is certified organic, and the individual teabags are packed and produced in California.
2. VAHDAM Original English Breakfast Black Tea Leaves
There are so many different ways to serve yourself a cup of this delicious English Breakfast tea; you can drink it with milk and sugar, just the way it is, opt for having it hot, or chill it with ice for a hot summer day. Each little teabag contains a mix of whole tea leaves rather than a ground product, and this gives each cup a whole different flavor profile that you only find in the best kinds of black tea products. The leaves are handpicked in India and packed close by to eliminate the risk of contamination, which gives you a fresh and natural product with that deep color you want to see in a good English Breakfast tea.
Pros:
+ Grown, picked and packed in India
+ Improved bag design and construction
+ Fresh and handpicked leaves
+ Great for hot and cold tea
Why We Like It – The enhanced teabag design offers a unique flavor profile thanks to the improved infusion, and it goes well both with and without sugar and milk.
3. Twinings of London English Breakfast Black Tea Bags
This is a tea brand most tea drinkers are familiar with, and it’s known for its wide selection of teas and its delicious breakfast tea products. Their English black breakfast tea is found in homes across the world, and the brand prides itself on being available in over 100 countries. There is a balance between softness and a rougher aspect that has this tea’s flavor stand out, and there are few better ways to wind down after work than to put water in the kettle and brew yourself a cup of Twinings of London black tea.
Pros:
+ Full-bodied complex flavor
+ Available in over 100 countries
+ Unique characteristics
+ Free from artificial ingredients
Why We Like It – For someone who wants a balanced flavor experience, there are few better options than this black tea, and when you feel that calming warmth, you suddenly understand why it has become such a worldwide success.
4. Lipton Tea Bags
The best black tea might be hiding in plain sight, and this brand – one of the most popular brands making black teas – is also one of the absolute best. Each leaf used has been carefully selected and handpicked, then put through a process designed to capture as much of the natural flavor as possible, and packed into a box designed to keep air out and the tea fresh.
The teabags are Rain forest Alliance certified to assure each tea drinker that the process of making the product has been as environmentally friendly as possible, where the makers have opted to reduce the impact on nature and growing grounds.
Pros:
+ Flavonoids for heart health
+ Box to help the bags stay fresh
+ Rainforest Alliance certified bags
+ Natural and full taste
Why We Like It – When it comes to tea, Lipton is producing and distributing a variety of flavors. Still, their black tea remains in the top and is unmistakably a product you are likely to find in any tea lover’s kitchen cabinets.
5. The Republic Of Tea Blackberry Sage Black Tea
The fruity flavor of this Indian black tea has a calming and soothing effect on the drinker, and it has been infused with a blend of delicate fruits and carefully selected herbs to get that bold and rich flavor, mixed with a fruity tanginess. Many opt for using this product when trying to cut down on coffee, as it has some caffeine, but less than half of what you find in a cup of joe. The smell of these black teas is reassuring and mild, just what you need to center your mind and regain focus and control.
Pros:
+ Blackberry Sage Black Tea
+ Free from carbs, sugar, and gluten
+ Unbleached teabags
+ Infused with herbs and fruit
Why We Like It – When you need to unwind and relax, there is no better and more delicious black tea than this, and many would choose this over green tea any day due to the fruity flavor mixed with everything you love about black teas.
6. Newman’s Own Organics Black Tea
This family-run company produces premium organic black teas known for their aroma and full flavor profile. They keep a close eye on the tea plants themselves to ensure maximal quality, and it is both gluten-free, dairy-free, and Kosher. You get 100 teabags in each pack, and the teas are a natural source of flavonoids to help strengthen your heart and boost your health. With the market full of black teas from Sri Lanka, the Anhui province, and much more, this premium blend still stands out!
Pros:
+ Pack of 100 bags
+ Kosher and gluten-free
+ Organic tea blend
+ Natural source of flavonoids
Why We Like It – It’s the family-owned aspect of this brand that makes it so special, and you can almost taste the love and care that goes into every kosher teabag.
7. Bigelow Black Tea
Variety is always nice, and that is exactly what you get with this calorie-free variety pack! There is Earl Grey, Masala Chai, Ceylon black tea, and much more. The brand is B Corp certified and works actively to maintain a sustainable and environmentally friendly production. The bags of tea are individually wrapped in foil, which helps maintain freshness during transport and storage, to make sure your teas are always packed with the best leaves and the most delicious flavor and aroma.
Pros:
+ Sustainable and B Corp certified
+ Superior tea quality
+ Individually packed bags
+ Over 70 years of experience
Why We Like It – The company has over 70 years of experience in the tea-making business, and they have created a variety pack to satisfy most black tea lovers with Earl Grey, Masala Chai vanilla teas, and other delicious teas.
8. Teavana Earl Grey Crème
Only the best ingredients get to go in this Earl Grey tea because, as all Earl Grey lovers know very well, there is something very special about this type of tea. Teavana has added a little twist in the form of a creamy vanilla flavor. It’s perfect for someone who wants to try something different without having to give up drinking Earl Grey tea, or for a tea-drinking beginner who isn’t quite ready for a regular black tea yet.
Pros:
+ Mix of premium fruits
+ Sourced 100% ethically
+ Creamy Earl Grey vanilla flavor
+ With the best ingredients
Why We Like It – The creamy and irresistible vanilla flavor is a game-changer, especially for someone who is only just starting to drink teas, and it’s nice to see an ethically sourced product.
9. Tazo Awake English Breakfast Tea Bags
Not everyone prefers coffee in the morning, and this is a great tea for getting some energy to last you throughout the day. These teas are made with the best leaves available, packed with both flavor and aroma, and the brand prides itself with having converted a few stubborn coffee drinkers over the years! You may have tried Masala chai teas, Darjeeling tea products, lapsang souchong, or even the best teas from Sri Lanka or the Anhui province, but there seems to be something about Tazo teas that stand out!
Pros:
+ Robust and classic black tea
+ Balanced flavor and aroma
+ Brand with top-rated teas
+ Great for tea drinking beginners
Why We Like It – A tea like this is great for both the dedicated tea drinker and the beginner, and the flavor profile speaks for itself, along with both quality and affordability.
10. Teamonk Dravak Assam Second Flush Black Tea
To top off a list of great teas, this black tea is one you cannot miss! It has a surprisingly golden tone to it and a flavor that is somehow both robust and smooth at the same time. It’s a very versatile tea that tends to please all pallets. There’s no oil or other additives in this product, and it’s made from 100% tea leaves, making it the ultimate product to enjoy either cold on a warm summer evening or hot when it is chilly outside. The name Dravak means something close to ‘enchanting’ in Sanskrit, and it’s a very accurate way of describing the flavor.
Pros:
+ Assam tea product
+ Robust and malty flavor
+ Pure tea free from oils
+ Name means ‘enchanting’
Why We Like It – A 100% natural product like this always desirable, but the golden color and unmistakable flavor are what make it a favorite worldwide.
Black Tea Buyer’s Guide
When you drink black tea, you give your body a much-needed health boost, as it’s packed with antioxidants that can help boost your immune system and more. There is nothing quite like sitting down with a cup of tea after a long workday, after putting the kids to bed or when you just need a moment to yourself, and many turn to a traditional cup of black tea.
There are many different tea blends to choose from also for black tea, which some tea-drinking beginners may not be aware of, and this guide will help demonstrate why you should consider drinking black teas, and also how you can find the best black tea out there.
An Introduction to Black Tea
Black tea is essentially Camellia sinensis leaves that have been oxidized, and the level of oxidation should be somewhere over 90% to be considered black tea. Out of all the different tea types and tea leaves, it’s well known that black teas are the boldest type of tea, with an unmistakable aroma and rich flavor. It is often used in commercially sold sweat teas and ice teas but sweetened with sugar and other sweeteners, and while the robust flavor when you have it on its own might not be for everyone you are likely to have come across it somewhere during your lifetime.
Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf Tea
Bags are the easiest way to make a cup of black tea, as there is no mess, and you need no additional tools in order to make it. Something worth knowing though is that you might not get as much flavor out of bagged tea as you would from purchasing loose leaf tea, and the reason for this is that when you purchase bags, there is a risk that the tea might be lower quality, or somewhat aged, which could affect the overall quality and flavor.
Leaves, on the other hand, are easier to check before you make your purchase, and you can inspect them and smell them before you make your decision. If you want the easiest way to make tea, bags are the way to go. If you value quality and a rich flavor experience, then perhaps you are ready to try leaves instead.
Health Benefits
+ Improved oral health. Studies have shown that black teas might be beneficial for your mouth, teeth, and oral health, by reducing plaque and growing bacteria, which – in a worst-case scenario – could otherwise lead to some very unpleasant oral problems and potentially expensive dental procedures.
+ Stress relieving qualities. Sitting down with a hot cup of tea is relaxing in itself, which most tea drinkers would agree to, but it also seems like the amino acid L-theanine found in black tea could work towards reducing anxiety and stress.
+ Reduced risk of stroke. There is research indicating that the risk of stroke is reduced with 21% in individuals that drink three cups of tea per day or more, and this is independent of their gender and origin. These are interesting findings as the percentage shown is surprisingly high.
+ Less risk of cancer. The antioxidants polyphenol and catechins are both found in tea, and it is believed that the same antioxidants could also lessen the risk of permanent DNA damage due to tobacco use and drugs.
+ Stronger immune system. The tannins and alkylamine antigens in tea are natural immune system boosters, and could help protect you from common colds, viruses, and even the flu.
Which black tea is the strongest?
Three examples of strong black teas are Sri Lanka Ceylon black tea, Assam tea, and Yunnan tea, but if you are truly passionate about bolder flavors, there are many different types of black teas for you to try.
Which is the best black tea to drink?
It isn’t generally a question of which type of black tea is best, and it’s more a question of which you prefer in terms of flavor and boldness.
Conclusion
You have probably heard it many times that tea is good for you, and that a nice cup of tea could help you relax when you need it the most. Any avid tea drinker will agree, so if you aren’t drinking tea already, now is the time to start, and this guide will have hopefully motived you enough to go out and buy some. If you haven’t had tea very often before, most teas might taste the same to you at first, but eventually, you will start noticing how all tea blends have their own flavor profile.
Expert Tip
If you want to start drinking tea but struggle with the bitterness, start by adding sugar, and then phase it out gradually as you grow used to being a tea drinker.
Did You Know
Black tea and green tea taste different and have different colors, but both come from the Camellia sinensis plant, and it’s only the processing that truly differs.