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

Poornima, a salt pan worker, sips black tea during the day -- saying the hot drink induces sweating in the dry weather to cool the body.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

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

“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 Taisin and Con returned to camp, Shae had brewed strong black tea for them, and Kaede and Pol had already disassembled the tents.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo