Black Tea

Black teas are actually known as "Red Tea" or Hong Cha in China. They are fully oxidized which brings out caramel, chocolate, and tannic flavors more boldly than in other types of tea. After picking, the leaves are layed out and allowed to wither for a long period of time. They are then rolled and allowed to oxidize and dry further before being heated to remove any remaining moisture. As a category, black teas can include a wide variety of flavors such as: malty, dry, smoky, spicy, sweet, muscatel, floral, earthy, and fruity.

Black tea leaves come from two different varieties of tea plant: Sinensis and Assamica. Sinensis is used in Chinese teas as well as in Highland India and Nepal. Sinensis leaves are smaller and more delicate, whereas Assamica leaves (produced in Lowland India, Sri Lanka, and all other regions) are broader and more robust. Some of our black teas have been aromatized, flavored with oil after the drying stage to give a unique drinking experience.

Quick view
Assam Brahamaputra leaves on the left are rolled into short and slender dark brown tubes. A cup of steeped tea on the right has an orange caramel color.
Assam Brahmaputra
$12.00
Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Darjeeling Second Flush leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are dark brown with spots of pale green. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale orange color.
Darjeeling Second Flush (Summer)
$7.50
Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Darjeeling First Flush leaves and tea. On the left, the leaves are loosely curled and range in color from dark green to pale green. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
Darjeeling First Flush (Spring)
$8.00
Quick view
Assam CTC tea leaves on the left are brown, pellet-sized balls. On the right, the steeped tea is a blood-orange color.
Assam CTC (for Chai)
$5.00
Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Nepal Illam leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves apepar predominantly black, with a few shades of green and orange scattered throughout. On the right, the steeped liquid is a golden yellow color.
Nepal Ilam
$7.00
Quick view
A close-up of Darjeeling Himalaya leaves. They are loosely curled, looking more pressed than previous iterations, and range in color from bright yellow to dark brown. The tea is labeled as Certified Organic and carries a USDA Organic label.
Darjeeling Himalaya
$13.00
Sold Out
A side-by-side comparison of Rwandan Black leaves and steeped tea. On the left, teh tea leaves are small, tightly packed, and black. On the right, the liquid is a reddish brown mix.
Rwandan Black Tea
$13.00
Quick view
Nepal Dhankuta
Nepal Dhankuta
$7.00
Quick view
A side-by-side comparison of Wooricha leave and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are narrow and curving, and a dark black color. On the right, the steeped tea is a rich yellow color.
Wooricha
$25.00
Quick view
Taiwanese Wild Purple
$52.00
Assam Brahamaputra leaves on the left are rolled into short and slender dark brown tubes. A cup of steeped tea on the right has an orange caramel color.
A close-up of Assam Brahmaputra leaves. They are small, tightly rolled into semi-circles, and are predominantly dark brown. They have Certified Organic and USDA Organic certifications.
The Assam Brahmaputra box is a squat, red cube with an orange rhino on the front. White text reads: "Assam. Brahmaputra Valley." Czech lettering is below the English writing.
Assam Brahamaputra leaves on the left are rolled into short and slender dark brown tubes. A cup of steeped tea on the right has an orange caramel color.
A close-up of Assam Brahmaputra leaves. They are small, tightly rolled into semi-circles, and are predominantly dark brown. They have Certified Organic and USDA Organic certifications.
The Assam Brahmaputra box is a squat, red cube with an orange rhino on the front. White text reads: "Assam. Brahmaputra Valley." Czech lettering is below the English writing.

Assam Brahmaputra

$12.00

[ah-sahm bra-ma-pu-tra]

An organic Indian black tea from the valley plantation region on the banks of the enchanting river Brahmaputra. A wild variety of tea plant, named “Assamica,” is cultivated in Assam. Our supply is outstanding for its freshness and sparkling taste. Brown-black leaves with light color tips are evenly rolled into half-moons. In the cup, they produce a dark, red-brown infusion with a rich aroma and a robust, full taste. Suitable for drinking before a long journey.

Assam Brahmaputra is sold in a 100g box for $12.00.

A side-by-side comparison of Darjeeling Second Flush leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are dark brown with spots of pale green. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale orange color.
A close-up of Darjeeling Second Flush tea leaves. The leaves are loosely coiled into spirals, and range in color from muted brown-green to black with hints of orange.
A side-by-side comparison of Darjeeling Second Flush leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are dark brown with spots of pale green. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale orange color.
A close-up of Darjeeling Second Flush tea leaves. The leaves are loosely coiled into spirals, and range in color from muted brown-green to black with hints of orange.

Darjeeling Second Flush (Summer)

$7.50

[darr-jee-ling]

In the Darjeeling region of India, the second tea harvest takes place just before the rainy season, over the course of fifty days from the end of May to early July. The color of the infusion is darker than the First Flush, and this tea has more body. The flowery, astringent flavor and light caramel aroma of the teas picked at this time has led to comparisons with the famous wines of Bordeaux. Rather small green-yellow leaves with darker tips float in the pot. Drinking this organic tea calls to mind late nights spent laughing with good friends.

Darjeeling Second Flush is sold for $7.50 / oz.

A side-by-side comparison of Darjeeling First Flush leaves and tea. On the left, the leaves are loosely curled and range in color from dark green to pale green. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Darjeeling First Flush leaves. They are small, tightly curled into spiraling tubes, and range in color from dark green to pale green with a few hints of brown tossed in.
A side-by-side comparison of Darjeeling First Flush leaves and tea. On the left, the leaves are loosely curled and range in color from dark green to pale green. On the right, the steeped tea is a pale yellow.
A close-up of Darjeeling First Flush leaves. They are small, tightly curled into spiraling tubes, and range in color from dark green to pale green with a few hints of brown tossed in.

Darjeeling First Flush (Spring)

$8.00

[darr-jee-ling]

In the harsh mountain climate of the Himalayas, in the Darjeeling area, the first spring tea harvest takes place from March to the end of April and is called the First Flush. The tea produced from this harvest is valued for its unique, flowery aroma, as well as leaves that are particularly green for a black tea.

Its supple quality is rapidly lost within a few months of storage making it very important that the First Flush Darjeeling be fresh. We buy our first flush directly from Calcutta and have it shipped by air. This means that we can guarantee the freshness of the tea in your cup. It is available only while the fresh stock lasts. A delicacy among tea lovers, the scent and flavor of it remind one of a walk in a rainy flower garden.

This is a perfect choice for those who are looking for a softer alternative to our more robust black teas. First Flush Darjeeling sits lightly on the tongue and spirit while carrying a degree of flavor depth customary to black teas.

Our 2023 First Flush comes to us from the Giddapahar estate.

Darjeeling First Flush is sold for $8.00 / oz.

Assam CTC tea leaves on the left are brown, pellet-sized balls. On the right, the steeped tea is a blood-orange color.
A close-up of CTC tea pellets, which are small, round, and uniform. They are all a light brown color. They have Certified Organic and USDA Organic certifications.
Assam CTC tea leaves on the left are brown, pellet-sized balls. On the right, the steeped tea is a blood-orange color.
A close-up of CTC tea pellets, which are small, round, and uniform. They are all a light brown color. They have Certified Organic and USDA Organic certifications.

Assam CTC (for Chai)

$5.00

[ah-sam]

This organic Assam black tea (from the Assam region in India) goes through a process known as "Crushed - Torn - Curled." It is best when blended with our masala spice mix to create strong, traditional masala chai. It can be prepared with milk and honey if desired, to create a comforting beverage, perfect for sharing with family or old friends.

Assam CTC is sold for $5.00 / oz.

A side-by-side comparison of Nepal Illam leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves apepar predominantly black, with a few shades of green and orange scattered throughout. On the right, the steeped liquid is a golden yellow color.
A close-up of Nepal Illam leaves. They are predominantly black or dark brown, but have significant splashes of green and orange. They are loosely rolled and curve in every direction.
A side-by-side comparison of Nepal Illam leaves and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves apepar predominantly black, with a few shades of green and orange scattered throughout. On the right, the steeped liquid is a golden yellow color.
A close-up of Nepal Illam leaves. They are predominantly black or dark brown, but have significant splashes of green and orange. They are loosely rolled and curve in every direction.

Nepal Ilam

$7.00

[ne-pal ill-am]

On the Nepalese side of the majestic Himalayas in the Antu Valley, “just over the hill” from the famous Darjeeling region, Nepalese planters have brought a delicately rich, high-mountain black tea to the tea world. The brown-green uniformly rolled leaves possess a high content of silver tips, often rivaling the freshest spring Darjeeling. The organic tea is full of aroma and an unobtrusively sweet, captivating flowery taste. Drink this in the mornings to prepare for a full day.

Nepal Ilam is sold for $7.00 / oz.

A close-up of Darjeeling Himalaya leaves. They are loosely curled, looking more pressed than previous iterations, and range in color from bright yellow to dark brown. The tea is labeled as Certified Organic and carries a USDA Organic label.
A close-up of Darjeeling Himalaya leaves. They are loosely curled, looking more pressed than previous iterations, and range in color from mid-brown to dark brown.
The Darjeeling Himalaya box is a squat orange cube. On the front, a line-drawing of a woman holding a tea plant smiles in red. Black text reads: "Darjeeling. Himalaya Mist. Pure Black Organic Tea."
A close-up of Darjeeling Himalaya leaves. They are loosely curled, looking more pressed than previous iterations, and range in color from bright yellow to dark brown. The tea is labeled as Certified Organic and carries a USDA Organic label.
A close-up of Darjeeling Himalaya leaves. They are loosely curled, looking more pressed than previous iterations, and range in color from mid-brown to dark brown.
The Darjeeling Himalaya box is a squat orange cube. On the front, a line-drawing of a woman holding a tea plant smiles in red. Black text reads: "Darjeeling. Himalaya Mist. Pure Black Organic Tea."

Darjeeling Himalaya

$13.00

[darr-jee-ling]

A pure, high-mountain, Indian black tea, plucked in the fall on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. This tea is the third picking, often blended with small amounts of Spring and Summer leaves. It presents the beauty of Summer with added maturity. The small brown-black leaves with light color tips are evenly rolled into half-moons producing a red-brown infusion with a rich aroma and robust taste of cocoa with hints of dark cherries. Taking a sip calls to mind the end of a long walk, cresting a mountain in the fading light of an autumn day, with leftover warmth from the soil radiating upward.

This tea is sold in 100g boxes for $13.00.

A side-by-side comparison of Rwandan Black leaves and steeped tea. On the left, teh tea leaves are small, tightly packed, and black. On the right, the liquid is a reddish brown mix.
A close-up of Rwandan leaves. They are small, crinkled, black leaves with orange highlights.
A triangular silver tea tin holds Black Rwandan tea. At the top is an image of a tea-picker smiling into the camera with a basket on their back. In the center, a logo featuring a bird with wings spread flying upward toward the sun is surrounded by words "Tima Tea. Spirit of Resilience." Below, the tin features other descriptive messaging: "Loose leaf black tea direct from Rwanda. Get loose... step out of the bag! Net weight is 2 ounces or 23 servings."
A side-by-side comparison of Rwandan Black leaves and steeped tea. On the left, teh tea leaves are small, tightly packed, and black. On the right, the liquid is a reddish brown mix.
A close-up of Rwandan leaves. They are small, crinkled, black leaves with orange highlights.
A triangular silver tea tin holds Black Rwandan tea. At the top is an image of a tea-picker smiling into the camera with a basket on their back. In the center, a logo featuring a bird with wings spread flying upward toward the sun is surrounded by words "Tima Tea. Spirit of Resilience." Below, the tin features other descriptive messaging: "Loose leaf black tea direct from Rwanda. Get loose... step out of the bag! Net weight is 2 ounces or 23 servings."

Rwandan Black Tea

$13.00

Certified Organic

A full-bodied tea with hints of savory fruits, this incredibly astringent and complex flavor includes essences of caramel, citrus, and milk chocolate. Hand-picked at elevations between 1700 and 2000 meters, it’s most similar to our Kenyan black tea with hints of Ceylon. This tea is meant to stand alone, enjoyed in front of a winter fire or on cold mornings with quiet contemplation. This tea is supplied by one of our partners who works with Rwandan genocide survivors and their families to promote economic empowerment and harmonious living.

Rwandan Black Tea is sold in a 2oz tin for $13.00

Nepal Dhankuta
Nepal Dhankuta
Nepal Dhankuta
Nepal Dhankuta

Nepal Dhankuta

$7.00

With a golden hue and the soothing aroma of light chocolate and ripe fruit, this contribution from the Dhankuta district is an event within a teapot. One sip is a dream of faraway mountains. A good tea to drink while reminiscing.

Nepal Dhankuta is sold for $7.00 / oz.

A side-by-side comparison of Wooricha leave and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are narrow and curving, and a dark black color. On the right, the steeped tea is a rich yellow color.
A close-up of Wooricha leaves. They are black and tightly curled into tubes that wind around like tree roots. There are hints of dark brown in the leaves, as well.
A side-by-side comparison of Wooricha leave and steeped tea. On the left, the leaves are narrow and curving, and a dark black color. On the right, the steeped tea is a rich yellow color.
A close-up of Wooricha leaves. They are black and tightly curled into tubes that wind around like tree roots. There are hints of dark brown in the leaves, as well.

Wooricha

$25.00

[woo-ree-cha]

A fully oxidized, certified-organic tea from Korea with a classic cocoa fragrance. Wooricha is also called Hongcha in Chinese (meaning Red Tea). It is plucked and painstakingly processed entirely by hand. The slow, final high-firing of this tea give it an irresistible lingering aroma with pronounced flavors of chocolate, roasted barley, and savory baked cheddar.

Wooricha is sold in 50g packets for $25.00.

Taiwanese Wild Purple

$52.00

Our Taiwanese Wild Purple offering is a remarkable large-leaved black tea (hong cha), harvested from a historic, wild arbor tea garden dating back to the 1930s. It was originally planted by the Japanese using cuttings of ancient wild tea trees from the highest mountains of Taiwan. The leaves, which are certified organic, produce a deep infusion, reminiscent of warm cedar mulch and faint cherry flavors. It is remarkably smooth on the tongue and finishes with the taste of red wine oak barrels that have been aired for about a week, with grass trimmings in the breeze. Long after the final sip, a lasting flavor of wildflower honey complete with honeycomb lingers in the palate. 

The planter and tea processor is a small family business of three sisters, one of a few internationally certified organic producers in Taiwan.

Taiwanese Wild Purple tea is sold in a 50g box for $52.00.