Craft Brewed Organic Fair Trade Black Tea Leaves

Black tea leaves come from the Camellia sinensis plant, native to East Asia. The leaves are withered, rolled, and oxidized (exposed to air) before being dried, which gives them their dark color and robust flavor. Organic and fair trade certifications indicate that the tea was grown without synthetic pesticides and that farmers received fair prices for their crops.

Black tea leaves are primarily used to make beverages, most commonly iced tea and hot tea. They provide a characteristic bitter, astringent flavor and a dark color to drinks. Manufacturers use them as the base for a wide variety of flavored and unflavored teas.

Black tea is a natural source of antioxidants, particularly flavonoids. Some studies suggest potential benefits for heart health and cognitive function, but research is ongoing and not conclusive. Regulatory bodies like the FDA do not typically evaluate tea leaves as an additive. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated tea extracts and found them to be safe under normal consumption levels. There are no widespread controversies regarding the consumption of plain black tea.