When you think of black teas, what teas come to mind?

You might think of blends like English or Irish Breakfast, Earl Grey, or a non-blended black tea like Darjeeling, but those teas only scratch the surface of the world of black tea.

Travel through China and among the green, white, and pu-erh teas you'll find a variety of black teas to choose from. Chinese Black Tea (or Red Tea in China) can be very strong and pungent or mild and sweet. The leaves can be big and fluffy or tiny and compact. If you love black teas or want to explore Chinese tea further, look no further than these fully oxidized teas from the birthplace of tea.

What Makes Chinese Black Teas Different?

After all, black tea is black tea, right?

Absolutely not!

The black teas that are found in typical grocery stores tend to come from India, Sri Lanka, and Africa, which have their own ways of processing tea that differ from the way Chinese teas are processed. Additionally, these countries prefer to harvest tea from the Assamica variety of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis var assamica), which produces large leaves that make great hearty, malty teas.

While some Chinese tea producers use the Assamica tea bush (mainly for pu-erh), most prefer the Sinensis variety (Camellia sinensis var sinensis), which have smaller leaves that are used in production for black, oolong, white, yellow, and green teas. While there are some exceptions to this rule, Chinese black teas tend to be milder than their Indian, Sri Lankan, and African counterparts, having natural sweetness and even floral, fruity, or cocoa flavors.

Try these Black Teas!

Ready to savor a good Chinese black tea but don't know where to begin? Here are some well known Chinese black teas to try at your next tea session. Discover your next favorite tea!

Black Dragon Pearls

The pearl form of tea is a very popular form of tea in Chinese tea: tea is rolled into small balls or pearls which unfurl when hot water is poured on them, releasing their rich flavors. Generally, this is done with green or white tea, but black tea versions like Black Dragon Pearls are available. As the Black Dragon Pearls unfurl, each pearl releases its sweet, cocoa-like flavor into the water. While this tea can be brewed in most infusers, it's especially recommended to brew it in a glass vessel to simply watch and enjoy the display of unfurling pearls and strain the leaves when brewing is complete.

Brewing Instructions: Rather than measuring out a teaspoon of this tea, simply drop 3-4 pearls into a cup and brew in 212°F water for 3-5 minutes. This mild tea is best enjoyed plain without any additional additives.

Golden Monkey

One of the finest teas to come out of China, Golden Monkey is the black tea equivalent of Silver Needle in quality. It is called Golden Monkey for the tea's gold coloring and curved shape resembling golden monkey paws. This tea is processed by hand in Springtime in the Fujian and Yunnan provinces, well known for tea production. Compared to other teas, this is a relatively new tea, only being produced in the last three hundred years. With its fluffier than most leaves, this tea should have some room during brewing; try brewing in a traditional gaiwan or a large infuser.

Brewing Instructions: Steep one teaspoon of Golden Monkey in 212°F water for 3-5 minutes. Some even prefer to brew this tea at a cooler water temperature, around 200°F water.

Keemun Rhapsody

While black teas like Ceylon and Assam are often used in black tea blends like breakfast teas, some fine blends use Keemun. Blends that include Keemun are gentler than their stronger Ceylon or Assam counterparts and have a pleasant toasty, cocoa aroma with a slightly smokey hint. Of course, this tea can also be enjoyed outside of popular blends: Keemun on its own is available in different grades and varieties. Keemun leaves tend to be on the small side (though some larger varieties exist), making them suitable for most types of infusers (just avoid ones with large gaps that the leaves could escape through).

Brewing Instructions: Brew a teaspoon of Keemun at 212°F for 5 minutes. Drink plain or with milk or sweetener if desired.

Lapsang Souchong

Famous for its strong, smokey flavor, Lapsang Souchong (also known as Zhen Shan Xiao Chung) originated from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian, known for smokey teas: Taiwan also produces its own version of this smokey tea as well. The leaves of this tea are smoked over a pinewood fire during the oxidation process, giving it its distinct aroma and flavor. This tea has an acquired taste, but those that love it swear by its pungent flavors and aromas, however, some like to add milk to mellow the tea's intense flavor. Additionally, this tea is a favorite among those who like to cook with tea, with Lapsang being added to marinades, soups, sauces, and more for an extra smokey flavor; some even like to concoct an Old Fashioned alcoholic beverage with Lapsang and bourbon.

Brewing: Brew one teaspoon of Lapsang in water anywhere from 200°F to 212°F. This tea can be infused once for 3-5 minutes or infused multiple times for 30 seconds to a minute per infusion. Add milk if desired.

Yunnan Gold

The Yunnan province is known for its black and pu-erh teas, and Yunnan Gold (or Dian Hong) is one of the finest black teas to come out of the province. While other Chinese black teas have hints of gold in the dried leaves, Yunnan Gold's leaves are almost entirely gold while remaining a black tea. With a low amount of astringency, this tea is very forgiving for beginning brewers. A cup of Yunnan Gold yields a brew with a natural slight chocolate essence. Due to its large, fluffy leaves, Yunnan gold should be brewed in a vessel that will allow the leaves to expand.

Brewing: Brew one teaspoon at 212°F for 3-5 minutes. Additionally, you can steep this tea like a green or oolong tea at 180°F - 190°F for 2-3 minutes. Experiment and find what works best for you!

Also check out the Black Teas of China sampler as well! This is for the explorer within, an introduction to the varied black teas of China. This set contains four sample sizes of loose tea. This set includes:

Yunnan Jig - Rich and savory flavor, earthy, spicy and soft, smooth cocoa mouthfeel and finish.

Pu-Erh Dante - An aged, fermented tea with a slight sweetness of figs or dates and a clean, damp earthy aroma.

Keemun Concerto - An aromatic tea with rich, toasty flavor, mineral flinty notes, and hints of smoke.

Fujian Baroque - Naturally sweet, velvety cocoa notes, deep fruitiness and glimmers of spice and softly mineral.