At Penningtons, we celebrate the bold, full-bodied flavours of Chinese black teas, sometimes call red teas because of the amber colour of their infusion, carefully crafted to awaken your senses and provide moments of comfort. From our picturesque base in the English Lake District, we strive to make tea blends using only the finest quality materials sourced from ethical and sustainable farms from around the world. Originally cultivated for its medicinal properties, tea is grown in many regions across China and the country is one of the world’s largest tea exporters. Known for its robust character and versatile appeal, black tea from China is a classic choice for any tea lover, whether you enjoy it pure, with milk, or infused with aromatic spices. Up until around the 17th century, Oolong and green teas were the only tea available to drink in China. Black tea and green tea are both made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The main different between black tea and green tea is how they’re processed and the level of oxidation they experience. It is believed that black tea was discovered in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) when an army took shelter in a tea factory, holding up the tea production process and forcing the tea leaves to be left out in the sun. Oxidisation caused the tea leaves to turn dark which accidentally resulted in the creation of the first black tea. Discover the delight of drinking black Chinese tea and find out why these loose leaf teas are so popular with our customers by exploring our collection of Chinese black teas today.