Black tea is one of the most traditional teas in western nations. While historically produced mostly in the east, black tea was one of the first to be enjoyed in western nations. This tea is most commonly served with additives, much like coffee, such as milk, sugar, or honey. While the phrases are catching on in the United States, people in the United Kingdom often order their tea MIF or TIF. MIF means milk in first, and TIF means tea in first. In recent years, more and more people are drinking black tea plain.

Made from a plant commonly referred to as the tea plant, and actually named Camellia Sinensis, black tea shares its roots with other teas such as green and white. However, in order to make black tea, the leaves must be oxidized for some time, which is relatively unique among teas. It is because of this oxidation that black tea boasts the highest caffeine content of nearly all teas. This oxidation also gives black tea its very strong flavor, which is why milk or sugar are often added.

Black tea is also blended more often than many other types of tea. For example, you can often get some sort of a flavored black tea. However, there are also more common blends available. Earl grey is a very popular variation on black tea, as are many others. English breakfast, for example, is another popular type of black tea. To achieve these flavors or variations, there are simply some additions to the regular oxidized black tea.

When considering the caffeine content of most black teas, it seems obvious that many people drink it in the morning and throughout the day in place of coffee. However, many people enjoy black tea with milk before sleeping. Delicious any time of day, black tea is just the type of drink you’ve been looking for.

-Lisa Richardson