So, I got curious about the whole “black tea” versus “red tea” thing. It’s kinda confusing, right? Like, are they the same? Different? I decided to dive in and figure it out for myself.

First, I grabbed some black tea. I boiled some water, making sure it reached about 200F, I don’t have a thermometer, just roughly tested. Then I poured it over the tea leaves and let it steep. I tried it at 3 minutes, then 4, and finally at 5. Honestly, I liked the 4-minute mark the best. It was strong but not too bitter.

• 3 minutes of steeping: a bit weak, but still had that classic black tea flavor.
• 4 minutes of steeping: just right, robust and flavorful, but not overpowering.
• 5 minutes of steeping: started getting a little bitter, not my favorite.

Next up, the red tea. I learned that this tea has a sweet and earthy flavor, and can be drunk without bitterness. I used hot water again, and I let it steep for about 5 minutes, just to see what would happen. The color was this deep reddish-brown, kinda pretty.

Tasting time! The red tea was way different. It was naturally sweet, like it said, and earthy, but not in a bad way. No bitterness at all, even after steeping for a while. I actually liked it more than I thought I would. It felt kinda comforting.

My Conclusion

So, black tea and red tea? Totally different animals. Black tea is your classic, strong, maybe a bit bitter if you over-steep it. Red tea is naturally sweet, earthy, and not bitter at all. I think it really comes down to personal preference. I still love my black tea, but I’m definitely adding red tea to my routine. It’s a nice change of pace. Hope this helps you out if you’re also confused about these two teas!