The Most Popular Black Tea, Ranked

Choose the black tea you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 5, 2024 06:30
Are you a tea aficionado, eager to share your thoughts on the world's most popular black teas? Look no further! At StrawPoll, we're brewing up an exciting new ranking - "What is the most popular black tea?" With thousands of passionate tea enthusiasts like you participating, we're on a quest to uncover the ultimate black tea blend that has won over hearts and taste buds across the globe. But we need your help to spill the tea! Cast your vote for your favorite black tea or suggest a missing option that you believe deserves the spotlight. Don't let your beloved blend steep in obscurity; join the conversation and let's steep, sip, and rank together!

What Is the Most Popular Black Tea?

  1. 1
    47
    votes
    English Breakfast Tea
    Jugemu · CC0
    This blend of black teas is one of the most popular and widely consumed teas in the world. It is a strong, robust tea with a rich flavor and is often served with milk and sugar.
    English Breakfast Tea is a robust and full-bodied black tea blend known for its strong flavor and dark liquor. It is a popular breakfast tea in British culture and is enjoyed worldwide. The blend typically consists of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan teas, carefully selected to create a balanced and invigorating cup of tea.
    • Tea Type: Black Tea
    • Origin: Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan teas
    • Flavor: Robust and full-bodied
    • Caffeine Level: Moderate
    • Color: Dark amber
  2. 2
    21
    votes
    Earl Grey Tea
    Sebastian Stabinger · CC BY 3.0
    This tea is flavored with bergamot oil, giving it a unique and refreshing taste. It is also commonly served with milk and sugar.
    Earl Grey Tea is one of the most popular black teas known for its distinct flavor that combines black tea leaves with the essence of bergamot, a citrus fruit. The result is a fragrant and refreshing tea with a slightly sweet and floral aroma.
    • Type: Black tea
    • Flavor profile: Citrusy, floral, and slightly sweet
    • Ingredients: Black tea leaves, bergamot essence
    • Caffeine content: Medium/high
    • Brewing temperature: 85-95°C (185-205°F)
  3. 3
    31
    votes
    Darjeeling Tea
    Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
    This tea is grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India and is known for its delicate flavor and floral aroma. It is often referred to as the "champagne of teas."
    Darjeeling tea is a black tea that is harvested from the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. It is renowned for its unique aroma, delicate flavor, and light and bright infusion.
    • Region: Darjeeling, India
    • Type: Black tea
    • Flavor: Delicate and muscatel
    • Aroma: Distinctive and floral
    • Infusion: Light and bright
    Darjeeling Tea in other rankings
  4. 4
    20
    votes
    Ceylon Tea
    Chamath237 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    This tea is grown in Sri Lanka and is known for its bright and bold flavor. It can be served hot or iced and is often used in blends.
    Ceylon Tea, also known as Sri Lankan tea, is a type of black tea that is grown and produced in Sri Lanka. It is highly regarded for its distinct flavor, aroma, and quality. Ceylon Tea has gained worldwide recognition and is considered one of the most popular and sought-after black teas in the world.
    • Origin: Sri Lanka
    • Flavor: Aromatic with bright, brisk, and citrusy notes
    • Color: Amber
    • Leaf Type: Black
    • Caffeine Level: Moderate
  5. 5
    22
    votes
    Assam Tea
    soultea.de/André Helbig · CC BY-SA 3.0
    This tea is grown in the Assam region of India and is known for its robust and malty flavor. It is often used in blends for its strong flavor.
    Assam tea is a type of black tea originating from the Assam region in India. It is known for its strong, full-bodied flavor and rich malty aroma. The tea leaves are grown at low elevation, in the fertile plains of the Brahmaputra River valley, which contributes to its unique characteristics.
    • Region: Assam, India
    • Type: Black tea
    • Flavor: Strong and bold
    • Aroma: Malty
    • Elevation: Low
    Assam Tea in other rankings
  6. 6
    7
    votes
    Lapsang Souchong Tea
    Difference engine · CC BY-SA 4.0
    This tea is a smoked black tea from China and has a unique smoky flavor. It is often served with savory foods.
    Lapsang Souchong Tea is a unique and distinctive black tea with a smoky aroma and flavor. It is renowned for its rich history and deep, mahogany-colored liquor. This tea originates from the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian province of China.
    • Type: Black tea
    • Origin: Wuyi Mountains, Fujian, China
    • Flavor: Bold, smoky
    • Aroma: Distinctive, campfire-like scent
    • Caffeine Level: Medium
  7. 7
    3
    votes
    Keemun Tea
    Whiteness · CC BY-SA 4.0
    This tea is grown in Anhui province in China and is known for its fruity and floral flavor. It is often used in blends for its unique taste.
    Keemun Tea is a renowned black tea that originates from the Qimen county in Anhui province, China. It is highly regarded for its distinctive flavor, rich aroma, and beautiful reddish-brown infusion. Keemun Tea is known for its smooth, mellow taste with fruity and floral notes, and it often exhibits a slightly smoky undertone.
    • Origin: Qimen county, Anhui province, China
    • Flavor: Smooth, mellow, fruity, floral, and slightly smoky
    • Aroma: Rich and distinct
    • Infusion Color: Reddish-brown
    • Leaf Appearance: Tightly rolled and glossy black
  8. 8
    6
    votes
    Nilgiri Tea
    Badagnani (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
    This tea is grown in the Nilgiri hills of southern India and has a delicate and fruity flavor. It is often used in blends for its mellow taste.
    Nilgiri Tea is a type of black tea that originates from the Nilgiri region in southern India. It is known for its distinct flavor and unique characteristics.
    • Origin: Nilgiri region, southern India
    • Tea Type: Black tea
    • Flavor: Smooth and mellow
    • Aroma: Distinctive and floral
    • Color: Bright coppery infusion
  9. 9
    6
    votes

    Yunnan Tea

    Yunnan Tea Company
    This tea is grown in the Yunnan province of China and has a rich and earthy flavor. It is often used in blends for its unique taste.
    Yunnan Tea is a popular black tea variety originating from the Yunnan province in China. It is known for its distinct flavors and unique characteristics.
    • Origin: Yunnan, China
    • Flavor: Smooth and malty, with hints of honey and chocolate
    • Appearance: Dark, golden-brown leaves
    • Aroma: Rich and earthy with floral notes
    • Caffeine Level: Moderate
  10. 10
    3
    votes
    This tea is grown in the Fujian province of China and has a sweet and honey-like flavor. It is often served without milk or sugar to fully appreciate its unique taste.
    Golden Monkey Tea is a highly regarded black tea with origins in China. It is named after its unique appearance, resembling golden curls, which unfurl during steeping, resembling monkey paws. The tea is known for its rich and smooth flavor, with hints of honey and caramel. It has a delightfully fragrant aroma that is both floral and malty. Golden Monkey Tea is a popular choice among tea enthusiasts worldwide.
    • Tea Type: Black Tea
    • Origin: China, Fujian province
    • Appearance: Golden curls resembling monkey paws
    • Flavor: Smooth with notes of honey and caramel
    • Aroma: Floral and malty

Missing your favorite black tea?

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Ranking factors for popular black tea

  1. Taste profile
    The taste profile of the black tea is crucial, as it is what makes people enjoy the tea. Consider factors such as flavor intensity, complexity, and unique tasting notes such as floral, fruity, spicy, or malty.
  2. Aroma
    The aroma of the tea is essential, as it adds to the overall sensory experience of enjoying the tea. The more pleasant and distinctive the aroma, the more popular the black tea can be.
  3. Color and appearance
    The appearance of the tea leaves and the color of the brewed liquor can affect the overall appeal and popularity. A rich, dark color is often desirable in black tea.
  4. Health benefits
    Black teas may vary in the number and extent of health benefits they offer, such as potential antioxidant properties or aiding digestion. The more benefits the black tea offers, the more popular it might become.
  5. Origin and cultural significance
    The region and culture where the black tea is produced can affect its popularity. Teas with unique histories or traditions, like Darjeeling or Assam from India or Keemun from China, often gain popularity due to their origins.
  6. Accessibility and availability
    The ease of finding and purchasing the black tea can contribute to its popularity. If the tea is readily available in shops or online and not overly expensive, it is more likely to become popular.
  7. Brand reputation
    The brand or tea estate producing the black tea influences its popularity. Brands with a reputable history or those known for producing high-quality teas often garner more interest and trust from consumers.
  8. User reviews and ratings
    The popularity of a black tea can be assessed by the frequency and positivity of user reviews and ratings on online platforms or tea forums. This can give an insight into the real-life experience of consumers with the particular tea.
  9. Awards and recognition
    If a black tea has won awards or received recognition in tea competitions or reviews by experts, this can contribute to its popularity and make potential buyers more likely to try the tea.
  10. Packaging and presentation
    A well-designed packaging and presentation can influence a consumer's perception of the tea's quality and taste. Eye-catching, informative, or sustainable packaging may boost the popularity of the black tea.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular black tea. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or tea is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1794 views
  • 164 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each tea once every 24 hours. The rank of each tea is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular black tea

Black tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than green, oolong, and white teas. It is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and is known for its robust flavor and deep, rich color. Black tea is the most popular type of tea consumed in the Western world and is often enjoyed with milk and sugar. There are many varieties of black tea, each with its own unique taste and aroma. Some of the most popular types of black tea include Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, and Keemun. Whether you prefer a strong, malty flavor or a more delicate, floral taste, there is sure to be a black tea that suits your taste buds.

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