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Black tea leaves

Drinks & liquids · Tea

Black tea leaves

Dry black tea as loose leaf, CTC granules or tea bags, steeped to brew black tea and chai. Contains caffeine.

Also called: loose black tea, tea bags, assam tea leaves, ceylon tea leaves, chai patti, CTC tea

A kind of black tea (brewed)

16 recipes with it

Photo: USAGI-WRP, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-3.0)

What it is

The dried, fully oxidised leaves of Camellia sinensis. Loose orthodox leaf is twisted and wiry; CTC (crush-tear-curl) tea is small round granules that brew strong and fast, ideal for Indian chai; tea bags contain finely broken leaf. This record is the dry tea; for the drink see brewed black tea.

Camellia sinensis

How it’s used

  • Brewing tea and masala chai
  • Smoking food (tea-smoked duck)
  • Chole (boiled in a bundle for dark colour)
  • Tea eggs and tea-infused desserts
  • Iced tea

Characteristics

Aroma
Malty, sometimes smoky or floral.
Texture
Dry, wiry leaves or hard small granules.
Appearance
Black to dark brown.
When cooked
Releases colour and tannin quickly in boiling water; over-steeping turns it bitter.
Sold as
dried
Cooking uses
Suitable for boiling

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep in an airtight tin away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells; best within several months for flavour.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Contains caffeine.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

Related ingredients

Recipes with black tea leaves

See all 16

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