Collection: Loose Leaf Black Teas

Black tea is widely considered one of the most popular beverages in the world. It is known as the most robust true tea regarding flavor and aroma and boasts a wide flavor profile — some are sweet and subtle, while others are more robust and pungent.   

While the name may imply the tea has a black color, it actually brews dark red, with cultures in certain regions instead calling it “red tea.”

Black tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is the same plant responsible for producing other true teas, including white tea, green tea, oolong tea, and puerh tea. 

Black tea is grown worldwide, but some of its major exporters are China, India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. Many types of black tea are named after regions within the countries where they are grown. For example, Yunnan tea is from the Yunnan province of China, and Assam tea is from Assam, India.

To brew our loose-leaf black tea, follow these steps: 

1. Measure Your Tea: Begin by measuring the desired amount of loose-leaf tea leaves. A general guideline is 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 ounces (240 ml) of water, but feel free to adjust according to your taste preference. More tea will create a richer flavor, while less will produce a more subtle taste.
2. Heat up Water: Boil fresh, filtered water and allow it to cool slightly for optimal flavor. For most black teas, water between 200°F to 212°F (93°C to 100°C) is suitable. Black teas that are only partially oxidized, like Oolong tea, brew at the lower end of the temperature range.
3. Pre-warm the Teapot or Infuser: To maintain the tea's temperature during brewing, pre-warm your teapot or infuser with a quick rinse of hot water. Discard the rinse.
4. Add Tea Leaves: Place the measured loose-leaf tea into the pre-warmed teapot or infuser.
5. Infuse the Water: Pour the heated water over the loose-leaf tea leaves, ensuring they are fully submerged. Allow the tea to steep.
6. Steep the Tea: Steep times vary based on your specific black tea and your preferences. Generally, steep for 3 to 5 minutes for a strong taste and 2 to 3 minutes for a milder flavor. The flavor becomes stronger the longer tea leaves steep. We suggest brewing for 3 minutes and tasting in 30-second intervals to get the best flavor for your preferences.  Avoid oversteeping, which can lead to bitterness.
7. Taste Test: Taste your tea after the recommended steeping time. Adjust future steeping times based on your preferences. This is also where you can decide if you want to add anything — such as milk or sugar — to your tea to enhance the flavors. 
8. Strain or Remove Infuser: Once the tea is steeped to your liking, strain the tea leaves or remove the infuser to stop the brewing process.
9. Enjoy: Pour your freshly brewed black tea into your favorite mug and savor its robust aroma and flavors.

The right water temperature and steeping time play pivotal roles in achieving the perfect cup of loose-leaf black tea. Water that is too hot can make the tea bitter, while water that's too cool may not extract the tea's full flavor. Similarly, steeping for too long can lead to astringency, making the tea seem tart and dry in your mouth. 

Balancing these factors will help unlock the tea's rich aroma and taste.

If you want to mix up your cup of loose-leaf black tea, here are some suggestions for ingredients that could enhance your tea experience:

• Milk: Some black teas — such as Assam tea, English Breakfast tea, and Irish Breakfast tea — pair wonderfully with milk. Add a splash of milk, cream, or plant-based milk to create a creamy and comforting cup.
• Sweeteners: Raise the sweetness and aroma of your black tea with natural sweeteners like honey, sugar, or agave. You could also add a simple vanilla syrup to add a touch of sugary sweetness. Stir in a small amount and adjust to taste.
• Citrus: Elevate your tea with a twist of citrus. Lemon juice, lime zest, or orange peel can complement the tea's natural flavors and provide a refreshing twist.
• Spices: Experiment with spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, or cardamom pods to create your own unique tea blend.
• Iced Tea: For a refreshing summer treat, brew your loose-leaf tea and let it cool before pouring it over ice. Add lemon slices or a sprig of mint for extra freshness. If you are interested in iced tea or cold brew teas, you can also check out our cold brew tea packs. 

With these ideas, you'll be able to experience the full spectrum of flavors that loose-leaf black tea has to offer. Remember that these guidelines are starting points — don't hesitate to adjust or combine these suggestions to suit your personal taste preferences and discover your perfect cup of tea.

Our loose-leaf black teas come in many different blends and flavor profiles.

Fruity 

If you want a sweet and fruity loose tea blend, we have several blends perfect for your flavor preferences, including

• Pina Colada
• Ginger Peach
• Papaya Passion
• Orange Vanilla Cream

Spiced

If you want something with a spiced flavor, try our holiday spice or butterbeer tea. 

Traditional 

For a more traditional cup of tea, you can try our House Black, English Breakfast tea, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Keemun tea, Lapsang Souchong, or Golden Needle black teas.

Chai

If you like the popular masala chai typically made by combining Assam teas and five spices, including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and sometimes anise and nutmeg, we have you covered. 

Try our original chai or one of our blends — winter chai, pumpkin chai, hazelnut chai, and apple cinnamon chai. 

Each of our chai blends has a delicious mix of black tea and spices blended together to create a sweet and spicy flavor.

Black teas typically contain 40 to 90 milligrams of caffeine for each 8-ounce (240 ml) cup, which is roughly half the caffeine in a cup of coffee.

The caffeine content per cup can be increased by steeping with hotter water or for a longer amount of time.

Black teas also have a higher caffeine content than most tea varieties, including white, herbal, oolong, and green tea. 

Pure black teas tend to be more caffeinated, while teas blended with other ingredients — like the spices in masala chai — are less so. 

The size of the tea leaves can also impact caffeine levels. Broken-leaf teas might release more caffeine during brewing compared to whole-leaf teas.

Incorporating black tea into your daily routine not only provides a flavorful beverage but also offers a diverse array of health benefits.

Studies indicate that regular consumption of black tea is linked to a nearly 15% decrease in mortality rates among individuals without underlying health issues. Increasing tea intake also correlates with reduced risks of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. 

The flavin content in black tea can mitigate inflammation, supporting your overall wellness.

Black teas also boast potent antioxidants, including polyphenols and flavonoids, which counteract cell damage, reduce risks of chronic diseases, and support heart health. Drinking black tea has been linked to lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Black tea's advantages even extend to skin care. Its flavonoid-rich composition aids in hydration and fights free radicals, benefiting skin health and combating conditions like acne. Homemade masks using black tea leaves can provide a refreshing summer facial.

The compound L-theanine found in black teas, combined with caffeine, enhances alertness and concentration, making it an excellent choice for boosting focus.

Black teas may also be linked to cancer prevention and blood sugar management. Its polyphenols may slow cancer development and promote cancer cell death for oral cancer and other cancer types. The beverage can also assist in controlling blood sugar levels, particularly after meals. 

Additionally, black tea consumption supports a healthy gut by fostering beneficial bacteria growth and aiding in digestion.

When it comes to enjoying the best flavor from tea, choosing loose leaves over tea bags is recommended. Tea bags often contain tea leaves processed using the Cut-Tear-Crush (CTC) method, resulting in broken leaves, dust, and fannings that lack the full flavor profile of loose-leaf tea. While tea bags might be more affordable, their quality doesn't match up.

Loose-leaf teas, on the other hand, consist of carefully selected unbroken leaves. These leaves expand in water, allowing the flavors to develop fully and providing a more satisfying tea experience. 

Experts widely agree that loose-leaf tea yields purer brews, as the larger leaves retain more flavor and aroma compared to the smaller particles often found in tea bags. 

For the most enjoyable and flavorful tea, opting for loose-leaf tea over tea bags is the way to go.

Black tea has a long shelf life of two to three years, so it can be purchased in bulk to save money. To get your loose-leaf tea to last as long as possible without losing its freshness, you will need to store it in an airtight container so it does not get exposed to moisture.  

Most loose-leaf teas can be brewed 3-4 times, especially if they are black, white, or green teas. Pu-erh and Oolong loose-leaf tea can sometimes be brewed more than 10 times.

However, tea from tea bags can usually only be brewed once.

The Scented Leaf offers many other teas besides black tea. If you want a different tea, try one of our green tea, oolong tea, white tea, or puerh tea loose-leaf tea blends. 

For a caffeine-free experience that is not a true tea, try our herbal tea blends. 

If you’d rather drink a cold brew tea instead of a hot brew, try our various cold brew packs.

For high-quality black tea, try loose-leaf tea from The Scented Leaf. We sell all of our black teas in 1 oz, 2 oz, 4 oz, or 16 oz options so you can stock up on your favorite blends. Our tea ships quickly and safely straight to your doorstep, so you can easily enjoy our best black tea at home.