Could Black Tea Be Coffee's Better Half?

Black tea is usually known as the most common tea to westerners. This probably has to do with the fact that it has similar qualities to coffee. True teas come from the same plant, and the difference between black, green or white is in the drying process of the tea leaves. Blacks are the most processed or oxidized.

Below is a really great Tea Sampler of some of the best blacks available. It makes a nice gift for yourself or someone who loves a good cup of tea!

Black Sampler Discover the world of difference between supermarket tea and the gourmet varieties found in this set. Sample black teas from China, India and Sri Lanka. Six tins in total, one ounce apiece.

Tea & Coffee

A common relationship between coffee and black loose tea is the taste. It is common to say that without cream it is very similar to coffee with cream but little sweeter.... We'll that is what some say, but I think the flavours are very distinct.

Along with that, the Blacks have a heavier taste than teas such as White Tea or Green Tea that are lightly oxidized. When brewed, black loose tea has a very dark color, looking anywhere from dark red to dark brown.

Here are some favorite blacks, recipes that use tea, and health benefits!

• Tuscany Orange Spice Tea is a black tea based flavored tea that is very popular. It is a blend sold by Celestial Seasonings Tea and can be used in a variety of recipes as well. Here is one for you to try!
• Tuscany Orange Spice Marinade Recipe that is excellent with chicken or pork.
• Golden Honey Darjeeling Black is another Celestial Seasonings blend that is very popular and 100% natural.
• Peach Tea Black is also typically made with a black and can be a refreshing treat either hot or cold.
• Health Benefits - There are many health benefits associated with drinking black tea. Find out what they are.

The "Blacks" have the highest caffine content per cup of all teas, but they still have much less than a cup of coffee. The antioxidant level in it is also a little smaller than the rest of the teas(because of the oxidation process) but again, it has much more antioxidant qualities than coffee. Black loose tea contains anywhere from 40-100 milligrams of caffeine per cup, mostly depending on the amount of time you let it infuse. There are ways to decrease the amount of caffeine so you really don't need to worry about the caffeine content.

Here are some brewing instructions to help you brew the perfect cup of black loose tea!

If you have ever contemplated buying Organic Black Bags this is a must read page, full of information that the Gourmet Tea Expert wants to know!

If you've ever been shopping in a grocery store in the tea/coffee section you've probably seen tea made by Lipton, Tetley, or Twinings. They control a large part of the overall production of black tea, but I'll let you in on a little secret. That stuff is no good! Try something like the couple of black loose teas below. You will not be disappointed.

Try 9 Bend Black Dragon

Delicious Black Passion Fruit

I try to stay away from major producers like that as much as I can because I know anything made from a major producer is not in its natural form and therefore will not have the correct flavor or nutrients it should. This is especially true with tea. The difference between high production teas and natural teas from specialized farms is VERY big.

First of all, tea from a specialized company will be much more fresh, as they individually hand-pluck the leaves and do all the work themselves. You will also get the leaves in true leaf form, not crumpled up into a tea bag.

Second, the leaves that end up in the mass produced tea bags are ONLY low-mid quality leaves. Again, you are not receiving true tea if you get them in teabag form. This also leaves you with less antioxidants since the leaves are broken and low quality. I only recommend tea bags when you are in a hurry, and they must be from a high-quality company.

As with other teas, this tea is best served as a whole, high quality leaf. Do yourself a favor and don't buy any tea from a major producer.