Tea family

A deeper base; often brisk or malty.

A pairing to try: Lemon · peach

What it is

Black tea undergoes more extensive oxidation than green tea. Its character varies: a brisk or malty cup is one direction, not a rule for the entire family.

Names to look for

Assam, Darjeeling, and Ceylon are names you may see. They point to different origins, rather than a single shared flavor.

A fruit pairing to explore

Try the same tea with a little lemon in one glass and peach in another. Taste both before sweetening; decide which combination keeps the tea most interesting to you.

For your next glass

Make a note of the exact tea you used. “Black tea with peach” becomes a much more repeatable idea when you can find the same leaves again.

Pairing suggestions are editorial ideas, not the results of a comparative tasting. Use the brewing directions for your particular tea.

Find a fruit pairing ↗
← Back to the tea indexExplore more field guides ↗