The Best Black Tea Brands around the World

Black tea makes up the bulk of all the tea produced and consumed across the globe. Black tea is the most commonly served beverage in America. From the “sweet tea” served in the Southern states of America, to the Assam black tea, to the blended variety of the English breakfast tea, there are different ways to prepare tea. And, different varieties to black tea to choose from.

It might seem a bit intimidating to choose from the wide-ranging varieties with their flavor profiles. Here is a list of some of the best black teas available on the market to help you narrow down your options and choose from the best of the best.

The Proof is in the Sip

Your unique preferences and palate would determine which black tea would suit you best. But, to choose your favorite amongst the premium black teas available-

• Brew the tea leaves at the right temperature
• Steep the tea leaves for the proper amount of time
• Choose between high-quality, organic black teas over machine-processed, low-quality leaves.

Black teas should be brewed at higher temperatures and steeped for a longer period of time than white or green teas. Black teas are more robust and have drier leaves. White and green teas are more delicate when compared to black tea. If brewed at lower temperatures or if not steeped for long enough, the resultant brew would be weak and lacking in taste. However, if over steeped, it could turn bitter.

A good rule of thumb is to brew black tea leaves in water at a temperature of 185–200 degrees Fahrenheit, and let it steep for three to five minutes.

For the best tea experience, use premium quality, organic loose leaf teas.

The Bold Ceylon Black Tea

Ceylon black teas are strong and rich in both flavor and aroma. The island nation of Sri Lanka has a wide range of altitudes. The different teas grown on the different altitudes have their own unique flavor profile. Ceylon black teas are bold and robust with undertones of spices and chocolate.

High-grown Ceylon black teas (cultivated on the higher altitudes) are amber-gold colored brews that evoke a fragrant woody aroma. While, the Ceylon black teas grown at the low-elevation altitudes produce a more spicy aroma and burgundy-brown brew. The robust flavors of Ceylon black teas make them ideal for enhancements like lemon, honey, and milk. The spicy low-grown Ceylon black teas are perfect for a cup of Chai Tea. Ceylon black teas are also used extensively in English breakfast blends like Earl Grey.

Best Buy- Teakruthi is one of the premium Ceylon teas in the market. The teas are organically grown with no artificial additives or chemical fertilizers. Try their ‘Varietea pack’ to sample some of the best Ceylon black teas. Well-known for their just-in-time sourcing of tea, within a week of harvest, Teakruthi ensures that the tea is fresh and sustainably produced. Even the packaging is made of recycled or reusable materials to ensure low environmental impact.

The Popular Earl Grey

Earl Grey is one of the most popular flavored black teas. Its distinctive citrus flavor makes it a popular ingredient in a variety of tea-flavored baked goods, chocolates, and cocktails. Organic, high-quality, authentic Earl Grey has floral-tinged flavor and a delicate, bright orange color.

Earl Grey also has a number of popular variations and is used in a variety of different concoctions. Earl Grey that is flavored with cornflowers, oranges, or lavender is called Lady Grey and is a favorite for sweet tea brews. Flavored green teas are called Earl Green. A Earl Grey tea latte served with vanilla syrup is elegantly named London Fog.

Best Buy- Harney & Sons, since their inception in 1983, have been one of the premium tea brands for decades offering more than 300 different varieties of tea. However, they are best known for their breakfast blends and Earl Grey varieties. Try their Victorian London Fog for its soft sweetness and faint herbal aroma. Or their Viennese Earl Grey if you want a light, citrus flavor for your brew. Harney & Sons reportedly employ more than 150 people and distribute to some of the most iconic hotels, restaurants, and boutique cafes across the world. They are also the largest importers of tea (reportedly a million pounds every year) in the world.

The Brisk Assam Tea

Assam black teas are strong, both in color and in flavor. Assam has a tropical climate and heavy rainfall for most of the year, resulting in a brew that is chocolaty and malty in flavor.

Assam teas are used primarily in different breakfast blends with other herbs and spices. It is the base for most Irish and English breakfast blends.

The robust and full-bodied flavor profile of Assam black teas make them ideal for enhancements like milk, sugar, and honey.

Best Buy- Vahdam Teas based out of India, is one of the leading exporters of premium Assam tea across the globe. Try their Assam Gold for your afternoon tea for the perfect balance of sweetness and caffeine. Handpicked fresh from the tea gardens in India and delivered straight to your doorsteps, Vahdam Teas intend to cut out the red tape and involvement of middlemen like tea auctioneers, suppliers, and retailers to ensure that the revenue returns to the farmers.

The Wine-like Keemun Black Tea

Also known as Qimen Hongcha, Keemun Black Tea has a smooth and distinctive flavor and aroma. Evocative of wine, Keemun black tea has fruity, piney, tobacco-like undertones. Its complex aroma and flavors mean that it is best enjoyed plain without enhancements. But, if you want it sweetened, you can add a dash of honey and milk in a limited quantity to intensify its cacao-like after-taste.

Best Buy- TenFu’s Tea, based out of Hong Kong, is one of China’s top tea exporters. Founded in 1993, TenFu’s Tea has long since been regarded as one of China’s premium tea brands. With tea plantations and factories across the different provinces of China, it specializes in teas that are quintessentially Chinese, like flower teas, white teas, and pu-erh teas. Try their Keemun Black Tea, for which they are best known, for its honey-like aroma underlined with pine, tobacco, and fruity wine after notes.

The Champagne Darjeeling Tea

The delicate, fruity Darjeeling tea is often referred to as the champagne of tea. Cultivated in the hill station town Darjeeling in India, the flavor profile of this tea depends on its season of harvest or ‘flush’. The first or spring flush is floral in taste and aroma. The second or summer flush is spicier while the third and fourth flush is stronger with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Darjeeling tea is usually light and mild in both flavor and fragrance. It is used, for this reason, in a variety of breakfast blends. Darjeeling tea is best served without enhancements like milk, and only a small amount of sugar or honey.

Best Buy- Kai tea based out of Texas, offers premium loose leaf Darjeeling teas which are famous for their delicate floral aroma and crisp light taste. Founded in 2010, Kai tea has multiple accolades over the years, including six medals at the prestigious Global tea Championships for their high quality, organically grown teas.

The Whiskey Lapsang Souchong Tea

Lapsang Souchong’s strong flavor and aroma has earned it the reputation of being the ‘whiskey of teas’. Cultivated exclusively in the Wuyi mountains of the Fujian province in China, the tea leaves are dried over burning pinewood. The smoky pine enhances the fragrance and gives it a distinct aftertaste with hints of unsweetened dark chocolate and tobacco. The flavors are strong, bold, and unforgettable. Lapsong Souchong is best served with a splash of honey and a slice of lemon. It is also excellent for iced teas.

Best Buy- Twinings is one of the most well-known and well-loved tea brands in the world with a history that spans over 300 years. With tea gardens across the globe, they are one of the major importers and distributors of tea. Twinings offers the distinctive and age-old Lapsang Souchong for the perfect smoky sweetness. Expertly selected from China, the tea is bold and strong.

The On-the-rocks Nilgiri Tea

Fragrant, sweet, and medium-bodied, Nilgiri tea is perfect for a cold brew on hot summer’s day. Known as the Blue Mountain tea, it is cultivated on the Western Ghats of Southern India, it is one of the lesser known varieties of tea grown in India. Organically produced Nilgiri tea is rather high on the price range. It leaves a faintly fruity aftertaste but can turn quite bitter if brewed for more than three minutes in high temperature water. However, served chilled or on the rocks, it is the perfect antidote to nausea, motion sickness, and sultry weather.

Best Buy- Fusion Teas offer a variety of the lesser known teas from across the world along with their own durable tea ware products. Try their Nilgiri black tea for your iced tea brew. A family-run business, they offer more than 140 varieties of premium quality loose-leaf tea leaves and herbal blends. They are well-known for their teaware products that include earthen pitchers, infusers, and some of the more hard to find teaware products like matcha whisks and Japanese tea ceremony kits.

The Chocolaty Pu-erh Tea

Also known as ‘hong cha’ or red tea, Pu-erh tea is the perfect after dinner treat. The leaves themselves are fermented and compressed into cakes, but you can find loose leaves for the brew. The nuanced flavors of Pu-erh are dark and malty with a hint of smoky spices. Pu-erh tea has a lasting sweetness and a chocolaty aftertaste making it ideal for those with a sweet-tooth.

Best Buy- TanLong Tea, based out of Toronto, Canada, sustainably sources and imports its tea leaves from the Yunnan district of China. Their Pu-erh tea is handpicked and processed in China, before it is distributed across the globe. Organically produced, fertilizer and pesticide-free, TanLong Teas are handpicked and fermented with love and care. Their goal is to empower the tea farmers of the Yunnan district so that they can leave their impoverished living conditions and take pride as the producers of one of China’s rarest and most sought-after teas.