Black tea is black because the tea leaves are fully oxidized. It’s then dried or fired to give that strong, full-bodied flavor, with a bit of malt in the taste.

It’s extremely popular as well. The most common options include English Breakfast tea, Earl Grey tea, Darjeeling tea, and Assam tea. Just pop in a tea bag in a cup and wait a few minutes.

Even without the tea bag and just with tea leaves, making black tea is easy enough. Use about 2 to 3 grams of tea leaves for every 6 ounces of boiling water you’ll use, and then let the tea steep in the water for about 3 to 5 minutes. If you want your tea stronger, put in more tea leaves and steep for a longer time.

Great for Breakfast and Study/Work Breaks

Like coffee, black tea contains caffeine that will wake you up. But it’s better than coffee because the energy you get is a lot more stable. That’s because black tea contains the L-theanine amino acid that causes you to relax more and focus more clearly.

So, take this in the morning to clear the fuzziness away. When you’re studying or working, take a break with black tea to help you become more alert without making you too jittery.

Other Health Benefits

Aside from waking you up and boosting your focus, drinking black tea offers the following health benefits:

• Lower “bad” cholesterol. While HDL is the “good” cholesterol, you don’t want the bad LDL cholesterol. The LDL can create plaques in your arteries leading to stroke and heart failure. The good news is that drinking black tea can reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
• Better intestinal health. Black tea contains polyphenols that promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut, while they also inhibit the growth of bad bacteria. Black tea also helps to repair the lining of the digestive tract.
• Helps to lower high blood pressure. If you have high blood, you may benefit from several cups of black tea a day. Try drinking 3 cups of black tea a day, and you may get an improvement after 6 months.
• Reduces the risk of stroke. A 10-year study involving almost 75,000 participants found that those who drank 4 cups of black tea a day reduced their chances of getting a stroke by 32%.
• Lowers blood sugar levels. Black tea increases insulin activity tremendously, with as much as a 15-fold improvement. Insulin carries the sugar you consume to your muscles, lowering your blood sugar level. This is crucial, since high sugar levels can lead to cardiovascular issues, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
• Fights against cancer. Obviously, black tea isn’t an alternative to proper cancer treatment. But it’s a great addition in your anti-cancer arsenal. Black tea may help reduce new cell development and slow down the growth of cancer cells.

So, try black tea now and see the difference in your health for years to come!