Black tea bags and loose black tea

Black tea bags or loose black tea?

Both come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is convenience versus control. A tea bag is one measured portion: put it in a mug, add boiling water, take it out when the colour is right. Loose tea lets you choose how much you use and gives the leaves room to open in a teapot or infuser, which suits a larger pot or a second cup from the same leaves. You'll find everything you need for that under tea equipment.

Browse all bags under tea bags and all loose teas under loose-leaf tea.

Black tea brands: the tea bags in this category

All tea bags here come in boxes of 25:

• Sunleaf: English Blend and Earl Grey.
• Tea of Life: English Blend and Earl Grey.
• Tea Cultures: English Blend and Original Black Spice Chai.

An English Blend is the everyday choice: a strong, brisk cup that takes milk well.

Pure black teas

If you like your tea without added flavour, start with the unflavoured teas from our loose range. Assam Pure comes from north-east India and is malty and full, made for drinking with milk. Ceylon, from Sri Lanka, is lighter and brighter and works with or without milk. English Breakfast and English Afternoon are blends: the first is the robust morning cup, the second a little softer for later in the day.

Earl Grey

Earl Grey is black tea flavoured with bergamot, a citrus fruit, which gives it a fragrant, slightly floral taste. Besides the Earl Grey tea bags from Sunleaf and Tea of Life, we have two loose versions: Earl Grey Lavender and Earl Grey Dutch Special. Earl Grey is often drunk without milk or with a slice of lemon, but that's up to you.

Chai and flavoured black teas

Chai is black tea with spices such as cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. Try Nature Chai loose, or the Original Black Spice Chai tea bags from Tea Cultures; more in chai tea. For something sweeter, our loose range has black teas with added flavours such as Vanilla, Crunchy Apple Pie, Fresh Ginger and Marzipan Rose. In winter, Christmas Cookies and Warm Winter join the range.

How to brew black tea

• Use freshly boiled water: black tea needs it hotter than green or white tea.
• One tea bag per mug, or about a teaspoon of loose tea per cup.
• Steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Shorter gives a lighter cup, longer a stronger and more bitter one.
• Take the bag or leaves out when it's ready, so the tea doesn't keep brewing.

Black tea contains caffeine, usually less per cup than coffee.

Other teas at Café du Jour

Green and white tea come from the same plant but are oxidised less or not at all, which makes them lighter. Have a look at green tea, white tea and, caffeine-free, rooibos.