Background 

Black tea is the most consumed tea type in the world. Black tea also derives from the same plant species, Camellia Sinensis as other tea types. In some parts of the world, it’s called “Red Tea” considering the color of the brew. 

History of Black Tea

As all other teas, China is known as the birthplace of black tea as well. Until the 17th century, the only teas which were sipped were white, green and oolong. It is believed that black tea was made when the Chinese tea masters started oxidizing leaves in order to extend the storage time of tea. Thereafter, black tea was the main type of tea manufactured for export purposes. In 1662 AD, Portuguese princess Catherine brought black tea to England, thereafter Brits started growing tea in their colonies like India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Kenya in order to meet the growing demand. 

Largest Black Tea Producing Nations 

Even thought the tea is coming from the same plant, it does tastes different depending on where and how it was grown. Think about wine, the same type of wine is grown all over the world, yet all Pino Nour are tastes different. The same about tea plants, here are the largest producers of black teas in the world.

• India 

India is the world’s largest black tea producing nation. Annual production volume of Black tea in India is around 1300 2,800 million Kilospounds (1,300 mil kg). Below are the main black tea producing regions in India, 

 

• Darjeeling 

This wonderful tea coming from the Darjeeling valley of India is always a treat to sip. Darjeeling black teas are semi-oxidized, but still tea masters around the world prefer to categorize it as black tea. This tea is light in color and has very special “muscatel” flavor. Once you look at a good Darjeeling tea, you can see many colors on it. Darjeeling tea can be categorized in to three types depending on the cropping season, namely spring flush, summer flush and autumn flush. 

 

• Assam 

Assam region is situated in northeast India. Assam Valley is a lowland region near the Brahmaputra River. Both Whole leaf and smaller CTC (Crush Tear Curl) teas are produced in Assam. This tea is well-known for its malty flavor and bright color.

 

• Nilgiri Tea

The Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) is situated in South India. The blue mountains rise to about 86,500 feet. There are more than 62,25000 hectares acres in Nilgiri under tea cultivation. Nilgiri teas are strong in taste, robust and balanced, with a smooth, overall flavor.

 

• China

1.  

China is mainly a green tea producing nation. But they produce around 435 950 million kilos pounds (435 ml kg) of Black tea and 400 880 million kilos pounds (400 ml kg) of Dark (Pu-Erh) tea annually. Both these types of tea accounts for about 27% of total tea production in China. Below are some of the main black tea types produced in China, 

 

• Keemun 

1.  

This is a black tea from the Anhui province of China. It is one of the most famous types of black tea from China. Good Keemun teas have an aroma and flavor described as mellow, fruity, and wine-like. 

 

• Yunnan Gold

1.  

Yunnan province is situated in Southern China. This tea is distinguished by leaf buds, or “golden tips” mixed in with black tea. Yunnan tea liquor is rich, smooth, and sweet, with a flavor sometimes described as earthy.

 

• Lapsang Souchong

1.  

Fujian is the region where the first ever black tea in the world namely, Lapsang Souchong came from. It’s grown in the Wuyi Mountains of the Fujian Province. This tea is distinctive smoky in flavor and aromatic. Lapsang Souchong tea is known for having a very strong taste.

 

• Kenya

Main tea growing regions in Kenya are East of the Great rift Valley and West of the Great rift Valleyrift. Teas coming from East of the Rift are little better-quality tea, where there are factories which uses bought leaf from surrounding small-holders. But larger private plantation companies operate mainly in West of the Rift. Kenya manufacture around 540 1,200 million kilos pounds (540 mil kg) of Black tea annually. Kenyan teas are generally very colourcolorful, bright with a reddish coppery tint and a pleasant brisk flavourflavor. 

 

• Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Ceylon teas are coming from the island nation Sri Lanka situated in the middle of Indian ocean. Sri Lanka produces around 300 660 million kilos pounds (300 mil kg) of Black tea every year. It is commonly used in tea blends as the flavor component. Ceylon black tea can be either medium or full bodied with a citrusy quality.

There are 7seven black tea growing regions in Sri Lanka namely Kandy, Dimbulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Uva, Uda Pussellawa, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna. Characteristics of each region are different from each other’s. For example, Teas from Nuwara-Eliya region are very fragrant, Butbut lighter in taste with a hint of cCitrus while Teas from Ruhuna are full bodied and strong in taste.

• Turkey

Black tea is a way of life in Turkey. Turkish tea is grown and produced in the eastern Black Coast Region of Turkey. Turkey produces around 175 385 million kilos pounds (175 mil kg) of black tea annually. This black tea is served by pouring a little amount of strong tea into a glass and then add water to reach desired strength level. Turkish tea is generally served boiling hot in small tulip-shaped glasses mostly without milk.

 

• Indonesia

Indonesia produces around 157 345 million kilos pounds (157 mil kg) of black tea each year. The mountainous islands of Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi in Indonesia has got favourable climatic conditions to grow tea, with bit cooler temperatures than those found elsewhere in Indonesia.

 

• Vietnam

Vietnam’s annual black tea output is around 117 260 million kilospounds (117 mil kg). Tea has been cultivated in over a half of Vietnam’s provinces anyway with most productivevely in Lam Dong (in the Central Highlands), Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang (in the Northeast), and Yen Bai (in the Northwest), provinces.

 

• Argentina

Argentina produces around 70 155 million kilos pounds (70 mil kg) of black tea annually. The major Argentine black tea producing regions are Misiones and NE Corrientes. Tea is plucked mainly from October to April and harvesting is almost 100% mechanized. Most of the Argentine black teas are the based for Ready to Drink (RTD) Iced Teas in North America. 

Now you must be wondering what are the heaviest black tea drinking nations in the world. Top Black Tea Drinking Nations and their per capita tea consumption figures are as follows, 

1. Turkey:            3.16Kg 7 lb per headper person 
2. Ireland:            2.19Kg4.8 lb per headper person 
3. England:          1.94Kg4.3 lb per headper person
4. Iran:                 3.3 lb1.50Kg per headper person
5. Russia:              1.38Kg3 lb per headper person
6. New Zealand: 1.19Kg2.6 lb per headper person
7. Chile:                1.19Kg2.6 lb per headper person
8. Egypt:              1.01Kg 2.2 lb per headper person
9. Poland:            1.00Kg2.2 lb per headper person
10. Saudi Arabia:  2 lb0.90Kg per headper person

Black Tea Manufacturing Styles and Grades 

PICTURE?

Image: Some of Pure Orthodox Black Tea Grades

 

• Pure Orthodox Manufacture

This style of black tea manufacture is specialized to produce leafy black tea grades. 

Main Grades of Orthodox Black Tea Manufacture

• Pekoe: Twisted and Coarse
• Pekoe1: Same as pekoe, but smaller in size
• OPA: Orange Pekoe ‘A’  –’ – A good quality tea, consisting of large and slightly open leaf pieces
• OP: Orange Pekoe –  Same– Same Style but small than OPA
• OP1: Orange Pekoe One  –One – More Wiry than OP
• BOP1: Broken Orange Pekoe 1 – A well twisted and smaller than OP1
• FBOP: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe  – Same style of BOP but slightly bigger in size and consisting few tips
• FBOP1: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe 1 – smaller than the BOP1
• FBOPF: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings – this grade contains few tips
• FBOPF1: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings 1 –this tea contains little more tips compared to FBOPF
• FBOPFSP: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Special – Similar to FBOPF1 grade but firm and with much better tips. 
• FBOPFEXSP: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fanning’s Extra Special – this is a black leaf with much better leafy tips.