Black tea is just... black tea, right? It's a bit more nuanced than that. We thought it was time to delve a little deeper into the world of tea knowledge, so today we're taking a closer look at black tea. What Makes It Black? All tea comes from the same plant, a tree-like shrub called camellia sinensis. The leaves and buds of this plant are harvested and oxidized (exposed to air) at different levels to produce the various white, green, black, and oolong teas. The longer a tea is allowed to oxidize, the darker it becomes. Black tea is oxidized the longest. Oxidation affects not only the color but also the flavor and caffeine level of the tea. Black teas have a robust, more spicy flavor and contain the most caffeine. Once the black tea is dried, it may be blended with other teas from different regions, or it might be flavored with herbs, spices, or oils. Types of Black Tea There’s so much more to tea than meets the eye! Flavor is affected by the oxidization process, yes, but it’s also greatly influenced by the growing region and blend. Because any tea can become a black tea, it can be sourced from all over the world. One of the largest producers of black tea is Kenya, though black teas from India and China have been historically most popular amongst tea connoisseurs. Making the Perfect Cup Making tea is as simple as hot water poured over leaves – except that it isn’t. The type of tea you are drinking will determine your water temperature and steeping times, both of which affect the taste of the tea. Your water itself can even change the flavor of the final beverage. First, make sure to use filtered or spring water; treated water has too many chemicals that can make your tea taste bad. For black teas, heat the water according to a full boil (212 degrees). Once it’s boiling, pour the water over the tea leaves and allow them to steep for about 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the specific tea and your taste preferences. Milk and sugar are, again, totally up to you. Now, if you prefer iced tea, I’ve got great news for you: Black tea cold brews the best of any of the tea types. If you’re not familiar with cold brewing, you’ll want to be; it’s the best way we’ve found to bring out all the nuance and flavor of a tea without pulling all the bitter tannins you’d normally get from oversteeping. For perfect cold-brewed black tea, we’ve got your guide right here. Really, all you have to do is throw some tea into a mason jar with cold water and maybe some of your favorite fresh fruit, pop it into the fridge overnight, and enjoy a refreshing glass in the morning. Easy peasy! I hope you've enjoyed our little foray into the world of black tea. Next time you reach for a cuppa, see if you can taste the difference the comes from the various growing regions – or at least simply enjoy knowing that there's more to your blend than meets the eye.

When people think about tea, it is most commonly associated with caffeinated black or green teas. While herbal teas, more formally known as tisanes, don't include any leaves from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, they are still considered a type of tea. With all of the different flavor options, caffeine free herbal tea makes the perfect soothing drink to warm you up without the stimulation of traditional tea. Herbal teas also boast many health benefits. There are so many different blends to try, there truly is something for every palate. In this herbal tea guide, I will help you decipher the different types of herbal tea and reach for a blend beyond your usual tried and true cuppa.Herbal teas are blended in almost limitless combinations, but the individual herbs themselves tend to fall into five categories: fruit, bush, flower, leaves, and spices. Each category has its own brewing behavior and flavor. You can choose your blends based on flavor preference, health benefit, or to try something new! Fruit Fruit teas are probably the most popular of the herbals. Just like the name implies, they are flavored with different dried fruits. These blends are often naturally sweet and familiar. Fruit is an ingredient that is forgiving of steep times. You can steep these teas for 5 minutes or longer in boiling water. Fruit teas are likely the easiest place to start for an herbal tea novice – or for a more experienced tea drinker wanting to try something out of their comfort zone. Floral Floral teas make me think of calming herbal blends to drink before bedtime, but they are certainly delicious and soothing any time of day. Some flowers that are most often used in tea blends are lavender, chamomile, hibiscus, and elderflower. When flowers are steeped, they let off a perfumed scent and a light, flowery taste. Hibiscus is the exception, as the stamen of the plant that is used is as tart as a lemon. Be careful not to oversteep floral blends unless you are aiming for a strong infusion, as flowers can get very bitter if left in too long. I would start with a 3-minute steep time in just-before-boiling water, and adjust to taste from there. Leaves This category encompasses a lot of plants, from the familiar mint to the more exotic tulsi and lemongrass. The flavors of leaves can range anywhere from sweet to refreshing to tingly to zesty to bitter to spicy – it all depends so much on the plant’s constitution and your tastes. This is a good category to experiment with. Pick a flavor you know you enjoy and find a blend that gets creative with it. Herbal blends based on leaves should be brewed for 3-5 minutes in boiling water and adjusted to taste. Spices This section is for the plant parts that call for a longer steep time or decoction, including roots, seeds, and bark. These herbs are often used in warming, spiced teas as well as teas for when you are under the weather. The chai spices – ginger (root), cinnamon (bark), fennel (seed), and cardamom (seed) – are good examples. Recommended steeping time is generally 4-6 minutes, but can be steeped longer for more warming spiciness. Herbals have so many flavors and moods to them, so don’t be afraid to try something new or even something you wouldn’t normally consider trying.

FAQs | Olive Oil Marketplace

How to Measure Caffeine in Tea

If you ask any tea expert about the amount of caffeine a cup of tea has, you will probably get a lot of different answers. Some say there is very little and some say there is quite a bit. The truth is the amount of caffeine depends on a few key factors. Because of this, [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2024-03-07T14:08:37-06:00March 7th, 2024|Tea|0 Comments

How to Figure Out Your Loose Tea to Water Ratio

It can be difficult to figure out just how much loose leaf tea you need in your cup. There are many factors to consider, from cup size to water amount. You also want to make sure you are accurate so your tea isn’t too strong or too weak. It can get frustrating to have to [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2024-03-07T14:07:15-06:00March 7th, 2024|Tea|0 Comments

Choosing the Best Infusers & Accessories

Are you new to tea or simply looking for that special gift for a loose leaf tea lover? This page is jam-packed with everything you need to know about the best tea infusers – so you can get to brewing a delicious cup of tea. Why Choose Loose Leaf Tea? Simply put, loose leaf tea [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2024-03-07T14:03:37-06:00March 7th, 2024|Tea|0 Comments

How to Enjoy Delicate Greens & Whites

Whether you are a long time tea lover or someone newly exploring the beverage, you may find yourself with questions about tea. Today’s article will hopefully give you a bit more of an understanding of these fantastic teas, the difference between white tea and green tea, and some tips to help you enjoy them! Many [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2024-03-07T14:04:36-06:00March 7th, 2024|Tea|0 Comments

All About Black Tea

Black tea is just... black tea, right? It's a bit more nuanced than that. We thought it was time to delve a little deeper into the world of tea knowledge, so today we're taking a closer look at black tea. What Makes It Black? All tea comes from the same plant, a tree-like shrub called [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2024-03-07T14:04:48-06:00March 7th, 2024|Tea|0 Comments

All about Herbal Tea

When people think about tea, it is most commonly associated with caffeinated black or green teas. While herbal teas, more formally known as tisanes, don't include any leaves from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, they are still considered a type of tea. With all of the different flavor options, caffeine free herbal tea makes the [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2024-03-07T14:04:56-06:00March 7th, 2024|Tea|0 Comments

How do you flavor the Oils and Vinegars?

We use all natural, mainly liquid flavorings. We stir the flavorings into the oil or balsamic just prior to bottling and everything is also made to order for maximum freshness. No heat is used in the process. The EVOO uses EVOO based flavorings, the balsamic uses alcohol extract-based flavorings. Some product use dry spices which [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2022-03-26T06:56:37-05:00March 26th, 2022|Balsamics, Health & Fun Facts, Olive Oil|0 Comments

What is the difference between White Balsamic and Dark Balsamic?

The White Balsamic is made with Sweet White Trebbiano grape yes, but so is the dark balsamic. The Dark Balsamic gets the dark color from the sugars caramelizing during the cooking process while it is being reduced and concentrated. The White Balsamic is reduced in a vacuum chamber. This allows the water content to evaporate [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2022-04-15T13:46:27-05:00March 26th, 2022|Balsamics, Health & Fun Facts|0 Comments

Olive Oil has a lot of Calories: Should I be concerned?

In a word, no. There are three terms that often have negative implication that are not necessarily negative: Calories, Fat and Cholesterol. There are good sides to each of them. Calories: Calories are essential because they give us energy; however, not all calories are created equal. 100 calories from fruit will burn off extremely fast, [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2022-03-26T06:11:08-05:00March 26th, 2022|Health & Fun Facts, Olive Oil|0 Comments

What’s the Difference Between Extra-Virgin & Regular Olive Oil?

What's the Difference Between Extra-Virgin & Regular Olive Oil? It seems we're always grabbing for a bottle of "good" olive oil. For the most part, cookbook authors are referring to extra-virgin olive oil, the almighty elixir that sits a bit higher on the supermarket shelf than the regular version. But what exactly makes a bottle [...]

By Olive Oil Marketplace|2021-02-06T11:19:36-06:00February 6th, 2021|Olive Oil|0 Comments

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