black tea

American  

noun

black teas plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• black teas
  plural

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

See Examples For:

black tea

Meanwhile, in May 2021, Murrell spent £3,192 on a black tea set and vanity bureau designed by leather maker Frank Smythson – which holds a royal warrant to provide stationery for the Duke of Edinburgh.

From BBC ● May 25, 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

Simmer them in brewed black tea or homemade hot chocolate, alongside cinnamon sticks.

From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2026

If I have to ask one of my parents a question, I’ll pick him, because Mother is hot black tea, so strong, she’s almost coffee.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine