Black tea
Black tea suppliers and sourcing guide
Black tea is leaf of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) that has been withered, rolled or cut, fully oxidized (traditionally called fermented) and dried. Orthodox processing keeps larger leaf grades, while CTC (crush, tear, curl) produces small granules for tea bags. Brands buy it by origin and leaf grade for tea bags, loose blends, iced tea, flavored teas and extraction into ready-to-drink beverages.
- Category
- Food staples and powders
- Also known as
- Camellia sinensis · Thea sinensis · Orange pekoe · Assam tea · Ceylon tea
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of black tea
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Orthodox leaf grades
Whole and broken leaf grades such as orange pekoe, broken orange pekoe and fannings, sorted by size.
CTC
Crush-tear-curl granules that brew fast and strong, the usual choice for tea bags and iced tea.
Origins
Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Kenya, China and blends, each with its own flavor and price.
Decaffeinated
Black tea decaffeinated with carbon dioxide or ethyl acetate.
Organic and flavored
Certified organic teas and leaf blended with flavorings, spices or fruit pieces.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Moisture
- Moisture by oven drying, usually under about 8%, which affects flavor stability and mold.
- Extraneous material
- Stalks, fiber and foreign matter, plus heavy filth by AOAC 975.48.
- Water extract and caffeine
- Water extract percentage and caffeine by HPLC, which show strength and grade.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS against the destination market's limits.
- Heavy metals
- Lead and other metals by ICP-MS.
- Sensory
- Liquor color, infused leaf and taste against a reference; tea is bought largely on cupping.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store in sealed, foil-lined or other barrier packaging in a cool, dry place away from light and strong odors, since tea absorbs moisture and smells easily. Keep flavored teas apart from plain tea. Shelf life is set by the supplier, often two to three years for sealed black tea, and older stock can be cupped and checked for moisture.
Lots and expiry dates
Flavor and color vary with garden, season (flush) and grade, so cup each lot against a standard and record the garden or estate and invoice number. Blenders often hold several lots to keep a blend consistent over time.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
USDA's Commercial Item Description A-A-20033C for black tea requires the tea to be fully fermented, dry, uniform in color, clean and sound, and limits extraneous material to 1.0 percent by weight.
Source: ams.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 101.9(j)(4) names tea leaves as an example of a food exempt from nutrition labeling when it has insignificant amounts of all required nutrients and makes no nutrition claims.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 173.228 permits ethyl acetate as a solvent in the decaffeination of coffee and tea.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 182.20 lists tea (Thea sinensis L.) among plant sources whose natural extractives are generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Black tea suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking black tea suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell black tea? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of black tea can brands buy?
Common forms include orthodox leaf grades, cTC, origins, decaffeinated and organic and flavored. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for black tea include?
Expect moisture, extraneous material, water extract and caffeine, pesticide residues, heavy metals and sensory, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should black tea be stored?
Store in sealed, foil-lined or other barrier packaging in a cool, dry place away from light and strong odors, since tea absorbs moisture and smells easily. Keep flavored teas apart from plain tea. Shelf life is set by the supplier, often two to three years for sealed black tea, and older stock can be cupped and checked for moisture.
What is the regulatory status of black tea?
USDA's Commercial Item Description A-A-20033C for black tea requires the tea to be fully fermented, dry, uniform in color, clean and sound, and limits extraneous material to 1.0 percent by weight. 21 CFR 101.9(j)(4) names tea leaves as an example of a food exempt from nutrition labeling when it has insignificant amounts of all required nutrients and makes no nutrition claims. 21 CFR 173.228 permits ethyl acetate as a solvent in the decaffeination of coffee and tea. 21 CFR 182.20 lists tea (Thea sinensis L.) among plant sources whose natural extractives are generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
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