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[[File:Black-pearls.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Black pearls]]

[[File:Black-pearls.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Black pearls]]

'''Black tea''' is a type of [[tea]] that is more [[tea processing|oxidized]] than [[oolong]], [[green tea|green]] and [[White tea|white]] teas.

'''Black tea''' is a type of [[tea]] that is more [[Oxidation|oxidized]] than [[oolong]], [[green tea|green]] and [[White tea|white]] teas.

All four types are made from leaves of the shrub (or small tree) ''[[Camellia sinensis]]''. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor than the less oxidized teas. Two principal varieties of the species are used – the small-leaved Chinese variety plant (''C. sinensis'' subsp. ''sinensis''), used for most other types of teas, and the large-leaved Assamese plant (''C. sinensis'' subsp. ''assamica''), which was traditionally mainly used for black tea, although in recent years some green and white have been produced.

All four types are made from leaves of the shrub (or small tree) ''[[Camellia sinensis]]''. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor than the less oxidized teas. Two principal varieties of the species are used – the small-leaved Chinese variety plant (''C. sinensis'' subsp. ''sinensis''), used for most other types of teas, and the large-leaved Assamese plant (''C. sinensis'' subsp. ''assamica''), which was traditionally mainly used for black tea, although in recent years some green and white have been produced.

In Chinese languages and the languages of neighboring countries, black tea is known as "red tea" ([[:zh:紅|紅]][[:zh:茶|茶]], Mandarin Chinese ''hóngchá''; Japanese ''kōcha''; 홍차, Korean ''hongcha''), a description of the colour of the liquid; the Western term "black tea" refers to the colour of the oxidized leaves. In Chinese, "black tea" is a commonly-used classification for post-fermented teas, such as [[Pu-erh tea]]; outside of China and its neighbouring countries, "red tea" more commonly refers to [[rooibos]], a South African [[tisane]].

In Chinese languages and the languages of neighboring countries, black tea is known as "red tea" (紅茶], Mandarin Chinese ''hóngchá''; Japanese ''kōcha''; 홍차, Korean ''hongcha''), a description of the colour of the liquid; the Western term "black tea" refers to the colour of the oxidized leaves. In Chinese, "black tea" is a commonly-used classification for post-fermented teas, such as [[Pu-erh tea]]; outside of China and its neighbouring countries, "red tea" more commonly refers to [[rooibos]], a South African [[tisane]].

While green tea usually loses its flavor within a year, black tea retains its flavour for several years. For this reason, it has long been an article of trade, and [[tea brick|compressed bricks of black tea]] even served as a form of ''de facto'' currency in Mongolia, Tibet and Siberia into the 19th century. Although green tea has recently seen a revival due to its purported health benefits, black tea still accounts for over ninety percent of all tea sold in the West.

While green tea usually loses its flavor within a year, black tea retains its flavour for several years. For this reason, it has long been an article of trade, and [[tea brick|compressed bricks of black tea]] even served as a form of ''de facto'' currency in Mongolia, Tibet and Siberia into the 19th century. Although green tea has recently seen a revival due to its purported health benefits, black tea still accounts for over ninety percent of all tea sold in the West.