Black Tea is said to have existed for thousands of years, namely in the form of the Chinese classic Lapsang Souchong. There are stories that in the 16th century, a batch of green tea was accidentally left to oxidise in England and unintentionally created what came to be known as black tea but it's history is old and vast. Whatever it's true origins, Black Tea has become a staple in many tea lover's homes.
The process for making black tea has more steps and requires full oxidation. Leaves are withered first so that they lose part of their water content. Then, when they are more pliable, they are rolled, placed in oxidation rooms and then dried with heat to create the distinct flavours we've all come to know and love today.
