Howdy, y’all! Let’s yak about somethin’ I reckon most folks like – black tea! Yep, that dark, strong drink that gets ya goin’ in the mornin’ and keeps ya warm on a cold day. We’re gonna dive into all them different kinds of black tea, or as them fancy folks say, “black tea varieties.” Don’t you worry none, I ain’t gonna get all highfalutin on ya. We’ll keep it plain and simple, just like good ol’ country talk.

Now, I ain’t no expert, mind you. I just know what I likes and what I’ve heard tell. But I’ve been drinkin’ black tea for donkey’s years, so I reckon I know a thing or two. First off, let’s talk ’bout where some of this tea comes from. They got this place called Assam, over in India, and they grow a whole heap of tea there. Folks say Assam tea is real strong and malty, kinda like a good, thick stew. It’ll put hair on your chest, that’s for sure! If you like your tea bold and kickin’, Assam tea is the way to go.

Then there’s other places too, all over the world, growin’ different kinds. I can’t rightly name ’em all, but there’s a bunch. And each one tastes a little different, you see. Some are kinda sweet, some are kinda bitter, some are just plain… tea-ish, I guess you could say. It’s like folks, ain’t it? All different shapes, sizes, and flavors.

• Strong tea like Assam: good for gettin’ ya goin’ in the mornin’.
• Lighter tea: maybe better for afternoon sippin’.
• Sweet tea: if you got a sweet tooth like mine.

Now, I heard tell there’s different ways they sort out this tea too. Something about “grades,” they call it. Sounds fancy, but it just means they look at the leaves and decide which ones are the best. They got names like Orange Pekoe, which I always thought was funny ’cause it ain’t got nothin’ to do with oranges. Then there’s Broken Orange Pekoe, which is just the same thing but with the leaves all chopped up. And then there’s “fannings” and “dustings,” which is the itty bitty bits they sweep up off the floor, I reckon. Don’t you go thinkin’ them little bits ain’t no good though. Sometimes they make the strongest tea of all! Like I said, it all depends on what you like.

Them fancy folks, they get real particular about their tea grades. They got all these long, complicated names, like SFTGFOP1 – Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe One. Lands sakes! I can barely say it, let alone remember it. But I guess it matters to some folks. Me? I just look at the tea and if it looks alright, I brew it up. If it tastes good, I drink it. Simple as that.

And speakin’ of brewin’, that’s another thing folks get all worked up about. Some folks like it weak, some folks like it strong enough to stand a spoon up in. Some folks add sugar, some folks add milk, some folks add lemon. Me? I like it strong and sweet, with a little bit of milk if I got it. But you do what you like, that’s what I say. It’s your tea, ain’t it?

Now, where do you get all this tea? Well, you can get it at the store, of course. They got it in bags, they got it loose, they got it all sorts of ways. Or you can order it online, I hear tell. Seems like you can buy just about anything on the internet these days. I even heard you can find pretty much any black tea you want if you look on them “eBay” places, but I ain’t never tried it myself. I’m too old for all that fancy computer stuff.

So there you have it, a little bit about black tea. Like I said, I ain’t no expert, but I hope I give you some idea of what’s out there. There’s a whole world of black tea to explore, so go on and try some different kinds. You might just find a new favorite. And remember, don’t get too hung up on all them fancy names and grades. Just drink what you like and enjoy it. That’s the most important thing, I reckon.

Different types of black tea really do have unique flavors. It ain’t all just the same old cuppa. So next time you’re at the store, or online if you’re fancy, take a gander at the different kinds they got. You might be surprised at what you find. And who knows, you might just become a black tea enthusiast yourself! If you are looking for a black tea variety, there’s plenty to choose from, that’s for sure.

Well, I reckon I’ve yakked enough for one day. Time for me to go put the kettle on and brew myself a nice, strong cup of black tea. Y’all take care now, and happy sippin’!