Loose leaf
Black
Vahdam Imperial Earl Grey Loose Leaf
Bergamot deep enough to fill the room. The kind of note that lingers.
By the leaf
Black.
Full-bodied. Boldly brewed. Built for the morning mug.
Brew temp
212°F
Steep time
3-5 min
Caffeine
high
The short answer
Brew black tea at 212°F for 3-5 min. It runs high in caffeine. Full-bodied. Boldly brewed. Built for the morning mug.
Black tea, xxxShort on time? The three we would pour first, and the one rule that keeps them honest.What we recommend.
18 reviews
Pyramid bags
Black
Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice (50 Sachets)
No sugar in the tin. Tastes like there is. People hoard it.
Paper bags
Black
Twinings Lady Grey Black Tea (100 ct)
Earl Grey, softened. Easier to live with.
Paper bags
Black
Tazo Awake English Breakfast Black Tea
Malt, milk, finished. The mug doesn't ask for a second thought.
Loose leaf
Black
Vahdam Darjeeling First Flush Loose Leaf
First pick of the year. Floral, muscatel, almost wine-like.
Loose leaf
Black
Twinings Lapsang Souchong Smoked Black Tea
Pine-smoked. Campfire in a cup. Order it by the kilo or never touch it.
Loose leaf
Black
Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black
The Anhui original. Winey, cocoa, a hint of orchid.
Pyramid bags
Black
PG Tips Original Pyramid Tea Bags (240 ct)
What Britain actually drinks. Pyramid-bound. Forgiving of a long steep.
Pyramid bags
Black
Harney & Sons Paris Tea (50 Sachets)
Caramel, vanilla, bergamot. Ordered in fives. The spares get gifted.
Loose leaf
Black
Mariage Frères Marco Polo Loose Leaf (100g Tin)
The Paris house blend. Vague on purpose since 1854.
Paper bags
Black
Bigelow Constant Comment Black Tea (40 ct)
Connecticut kitchen, 1945. Unchanged since. Half the country grew up on it.
Paper bags
Black
Yorkshire Gold Tea Bags (80 ct)
Rounder than PG Tips. Disappears into the morning without asking.
Loose leaf
Black
Vahdam Assam Exotic Second Flush Loose Leaf
The base note in every English Breakfast. Here it stands alone.
Loose leaf
Black
Harney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme Loose Leaf
The Earl Grey most people spend years trying to improve on. Then stop.
Loose leaf
Black
Yunnan Dian Hong Gold Tips Black Tea Loose Leaf
Golden tips from Yunnan. Malty, honeyed, no astringency. Doesn't need the milk.
Pyramid bags
Black
Harney & Sons Earl Grey with Cream (50 Sachets)
No cream in the tin. Bergamot and vanilla make it unnecessary.
Paper bags
Black
Tazo Iced Black Tea Cold Brew Filter Bags (Pack of 20)
Big bags. Cold water. Eight hours. No kettle required.
Paper bags
Black
Ahmad Tea English Breakfast Tea (100 Teabags)
London-blended English Breakfast. Built for milk and no complaints.
Black, head to head.
All comparisons →Imperial vs. DemureVahdam Imperial Earl Grey Loose Leaf vs. Twinings Lady Grey Black Tea (100 ct)Bergamot loud, or bergamot whispered.Spring vs. SmokeVahdam Darjeeling First Flush Loose Leaf vs. Twinings Lapsang Souchong Smoked Black TeaThe lightest black, against the darkest mood.
Cinnamon-forward vs. Full masalaHarney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice (50 Sachets) vs. Tazo Classic Chai Black TeaOne spice, loud, or six spices, layered.Single-origin loose vs. Bagged blendTea Forte Single Steeps Keemun Black vs. Tazo Awake English Breakfast Black TeaThe leaf that gets named, or the leaf that gets blended.The British breakfast showdownYorkshire Gold Tea Bags (80 ct) vs. PG Tips Original Pyramid Tea Bags (240 ct)Two bags in every British cupboard. Different cups.Single-origin vs. BlendVahdam Assam Exotic Second Flush Loose Leaf vs. Yorkshire Gold Tea Bags (80 ct)The ingredient, or the recipe.Continental restraint vs. Cold-pressed bergamotHarney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme Loose Leaf vs. Vahdam Imperial Earl Grey Loose LeafSame name on the tin. Different idea of what bergamot should do.The tribute vs. the originalHarney & Sons Paris Tea (50 Sachets) vs. Mariage Frères Marco Polo Loose Leaf (100g Tin)One tea named a city. The other named a journey.Darjeeling base vs. citrus blendHarney & Sons Earl Grey Supreme Loose Leaf vs. Twinings Lady Grey Black Tea (100 ct)Same fragrance family. Completely different base under it.Honeyed Yunnan vs. Winey AnhuiYunnan Dian Hong Gold Tips Black Tea Loose Leaf vs. Tea Forte Single Steeps Keemun BlackTwo Chinese blacks. The sweet one, and the complex one.FAQ
Black tea, answered.
What temperature should I brew black tea at?+
Black tea brews best at 212°F. Match the water to the leaf: too hot and it turns bitter, too cool and it brews flat.
How long do you steep black tea?+
Steep black tea for 3-5 min. Pull the leaf at the end of that window rather than leaving it in the cup, or the later sips turn astringent.
Does black tea have caffeine?+
Yes. Black tea is high in caffeine, which makes it a strong morning option.
What's the best black tea to buy?+
We rate Vahdam Imperial Earl Grey Loose Leaf among the standouts. Bergamot deep enough to fill the room. The kind of note that lingers. See all 18 black picks reviewed above.
Brew it right
The full black method: ratio, water, technique.