Most people, when they hear the word “tea,” think of black teas. They are more likely to be the teas of our American childhood, the ones we harken back to when we think of the tea our parents or grandparents brewed up. Simple, straightforward, and classic teas like English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Chai, Orange Pekoe (a John Harney favorite), and ol’ reliable Earl Grey are tried-and-true staples of a classic tea pantry.
Black teas are made from the same Camellia sinensis plant as all teas, but the oxidation and processing are what distinguish black teas from the rest. Premium black teas are withered, rolled, oxidized, and fired in an oven, creating warm and toasty flavors. The longer oxidation process causes the tea leaves to develop dark brown and black colors. The flavors can range from malty or smoky to fruity and sweet. Black teas range from mellow teas from China to full-bodied teas from Assam, India.
While classic, well-loved black teas like mentioned previously are certainly something one could drink every day and live a happy and fulfilled life, there is a world of other wonderful black teas to be explored! To learn everything you ever wanted to know about black teas, read our Everything You Want to Know About Black Tea page! It’s full of great info, like how much caffeine black tea has compared to coffee or green tea, black tea health benefits, and more.
To get you started exploring and enjoying more black teas, let's take a look at some black teas that go beyond the classics.
Breakfast Teas. There are a variety of ways to give your day a tasty start with several kinds of black breakfast teas. How does a black tea get categorized as a breakfast tea, you ask? In general, breakfast teas have a stouter quality and are fuller-bodied than other black teas, which is intentional in order to give you the strength to face the day ahead! They are also hearty enough to take on milk and sugar without weakening the flavor a wee bit as breakfast teas rely on their own delicious, bold flavors. Try Irish Breakfast, Scottish Morn, Supreme Breakfast, Organic Breakfast, Special English Breakfast, Royal English Breakfast, Mayfair Breakfast, HarSha, Safari Breakfast, and Ralph’s American Breakfast, developed in collaboration with none other than Ralph Lauren himself!
Black Tea Blends. We love a good blend! Not to be confused with flavored black teas (see below), black tea blends are beautifully balanced infusions, each one with a story all its own. Since our founding in 1983, Harney & Sons has made black tea blends that are like no other. Our founder, my grandpa John Harney, started our company’s love affair of black tea blends, and we have carried on that tradition of blending different types of black teas to give each its own distinct personality.
When one type of black tea is a perfect match for another, then you have a truly unique experience in your hands (and in your mouth!). Some of our black tea blends include Queen Catherine (named in honor of Charles II’s wife, she brought tea drinking to the English Royal Court), Eight at the Fort (our blend of eight teas!), Palm Court, Elaine’s Blend, Golden Blend, Stanley’s Blend (named in honor of my grandfather’s mentor, Stanley Mason), RMS Titanic Blend (the tea bags are unsinkable!), Anniversary Blend, Big Red Sun, and Brigitte’s Blend, created in honor of my mother.
Chinese Black Teas. From the land that gave us tea, black teas from China offer an outstanding array of flavors and aromas. Some think of black teas as a drink that puckers our mouths, requiring milk and sugar to soften and soothe it. Chinese black teas, however, have all the mellow, sweetened effects of milk and sugar without requiring either. From the honey twinge of Golden Monkey or Canton Honey Black, to the chocolate notes of Keemun teas like Keemun Mao Feng, Hao Ya ‘A’ (a Harney family fave) or Hao Ya ‘B’, the smoky flavors of Lapsang Souchong, or the intense earthiness of a Pu-Erh, there is no shortage of flavor opportunity with Chinese black teas. They have a range and character all their own.
Flavored Black Teas. It would take over two months of trying a new flavor every day before you could taste all our flavored black teas (and we’re all for you giving it a go!). Flavored black teas are exactly as the name implies, but the true secret isn’t in the careful blending of flavors; it’s in starting with a high-quality black tea base. All the wonderful flavors in the world can’t make up for an inferior tea base, which you will never find at Harney.
These teas are among our customers’ favorites, with beloved blends like Decaf Vanilla Comoro, Hot Apple Spice, Chocolate Chai Supreme, and Victorian London Fog, along with our three most popular teas, Earl Grey Supreme, Paris, and Hot Cinnamon Spice.
Starting to get the idea? There’s so much great black tea to explore beyond the classics. See all our offerings, including Assam, Ceylon, and Darjeeling, on our Black Teas page, and for extra help figuring out which ones are for you, take our Black Tea Quiz!
