Black — Tea [best]
Black Tea: A Complete Guide to the World’s Most Popular Beverage
Conclusion: Why Black Tea Endures
Black tea’s flavor profile ranges from brisk and astringent to smooth and malty, with aromatic notes like floral, fruity, spicy, smoky, or honeyed depending on origin and processing. Theaflavins impart briskness and brightness; thearubigins contribute body and color.
When the leaves are harvested, they are withered, rolled, and exposed to air. This process turns the leaves from green to a deep, dark brown or black, developing those bold, malty, and sometimes fruity flavors we love. It also gives the tea its signature amber hue and a higher tannin profile, which provides that satisfying "body." The Heavy Hitters: Popular Varieties black tea