black tea

American  

noun

1. a tea that has been allowed to wither and ferment under controlled conditions before being subjected to a heating process that stops fermentation and turns the leaves black.

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Etymology

Origin of black tea

First recorded in 1780–90

Compare meaning

How does black-tea compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• black tea vs. green tea
• oolong vs. black tea

Example Sentences

They don’t have coffee, but they do have Jeju Island–grown “Regenerative Organic-Certified” black tea oxidized as matcha.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

The Taiwanese beverage, which blends black tea, milk, sugar, and chewy tapioca pearls, has spread worldwide since it first appeared in the 1980s.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

A rollback of tariffs on coffee and other products like green and black tea should help the company.

From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025

“About 84% of all tea consumed was black tea, 15% was green tea, and the small remaining amount was oolong, white and dark tea.”

From Salon • May 9, 2025

When I’m finished, I can restain it with coffee or black tea and rub it with mineral oil for an all-natural finish.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy