Scientific Name: Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze
Synonyms: Thea sinensis L., Camellia sinensis subsp. sinensis
English Name: Black Tea
Other Names in English (UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand): Japanese tea, Tea, Common tea, Teabush, Teaplant
Family: Theaceae
GENERAL DATA
Plant parts: Leaves, Flowers
Cultivation mode: Cultivated
In manufacturing: Tea, pharmaceutical, insecticide, fertilizer, beverages, alcoholic drinks, perfumery, cosmetics.
In food: Tea.
🍂 Industries That Use Persian Black Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)
Persian Black Tea, derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, is a fully fermented tea known for its deep aroma, reddish-brown infusion, and smooth, bold flavor without the bitterness of other black teas. Widely cultivated in northern Iran (notably Gilan and Mazandaran), it holds cultural, medicinal, and industrial importance.
🌿 What Is Persian Black Tea?
This traditional tea is made by oxidizing young leaves and buds of Camellia sinensis. Persian black tea is typically:
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Free of additives and colorants
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Naturally rich in theaflavins, thearubigins, caffeine, and polyphenols
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Often consumed unsweetened and steeped longer for stronger aroma
It has digestive, antioxidant, and cardiovascular health properties and is a staple in daily Iranian and Middle Eastern diets.
1. Food & Beverage Industry
The primary industry using black tea is the tea and beverage sector, especially in loose-leaf or bagged formats.
Applications:
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Loose-leaf or bagged tea for retail and horeca (hotel/restaurant/café) sectors
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Ready-to-drink black tea beverages and cold brews
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Natural tea blends with herbs, spices (Cardamom, Cinnamon), or dried fruits
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Ingredient in Chai Masala blends, Persian tea rituals
✅ Preferred in premium and specialty tea markets
✅ Labeled as additive-free, single-origin, or organically grown
2. Nutraceutical & Health Supplement Industry
Black tea is studied for cardioprotective, digestive, and neuroprotective effects due to its high polyphenol and antioxidant content.
Applications:
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Herbal detox teas or digestion-support formulas
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Caffeine-based natural energy boosters
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Antioxidant drinks or immune support blends
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Cognitive and alertness-enhancing herbal teas
✅ Often marketed for focus, metabolism, and gut health
✅ Contains moderate caffeine: gentler than coffee but stimulating
3. Cosmetic & Personal Care Industry
The polyphenols, tannins, and antioxidants in black tea make it a sought-after ingredient in natural skincare and haircare.
Applications:
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Anti-aging serums and tonics (tightening and firming)
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Herbal face masks and compresses for puffiness or redness
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Scalp rinses and shampoos to reduce oil and enhance shine
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Eye masks for dark circles and inflammation
✅ Used in traditional beauty routines for toning and revitalizing skin
✅ Also used in foot soaks and bath infusions for relaxation
4. Ethnic, Cultural & Export Markets
Persian black tea is central to hospitality culture, daily rituals, and religious events in Iran and many Middle Eastern countries.
Applications:
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Served during Nowruz, weddings, or religious commemorations
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Gifting sets (with Saffron sugar cubes or special cups)
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Exports of whole-leaf or flavored Persian black tea
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Cultural tea ceremonies with Samavar and Estekan (glass) service
✅ Strong demand in ethnic and diaspora communities
✅ Exported primarily to Europe, the Middle East, and North America
5. Academic & Scientific Research
Research focuses on the health benefits and chemical composition of black tea, including its role in metabolism, stress response, and oral health.
Research Areas:
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Cardiovascular effects (LDL reduction, blood pressure moderation)
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Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of theaflavins
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Effects on gut microbiota and oral bacteria
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Polyphenol stability and bioavailability during brewing
✅ Widely studied for functional food and herbal pharmacology applications
✅ Summary of Key Applications
| Industry | Common Uses |
|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | Loose tea, tea bags, cold brews, flavored blends |
| Nutraceutical & Health | Antioxidant teas, metabolism support, mental clarity |
| Cosmetic & Personal Care | Skin toners, anti-aging masks, scalp rinses |
| Ethnic & Cultural Markets | Hospitality rituals, holiday serving, gift exports |
| Academic & Research | Studies on cardiovascular, gut, and cognitive effects |
🌟 Key Features
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Naturally oxidized, bold-flavored black tea
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Rich in caffeine, polyphenols, and theaflavins
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Known for digestive, heart-supportive, and energizing properties
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Core part of Iranian cultural identity and tea traditions
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No artificial flavoring, typically free from dyes and colorants
🍵 Comparison of Black Tea, Green Tea, and White Tea
| Attribute | 🖤 Black Tea | 🍃 Green Tea | 🤍 White Tea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Camellia sinensis | Camellia sinensis | Camellia sinensis |
| Processing Level | Fully oxidized | Minimally oxidized | Least processed (withered and dried only) |
| Oxidation | High | Very low | None or minimal |
| Caffeine Content | High (~40–70 mg/cup) | Moderate (~20–45 mg/cup) | Low (~15–30 mg/cup) |
| Color (Brewed) | Deep red-brown | Pale green to yellow-green | Pale gold or ivory |
| Flavor Profile | Bold, malty, astringent | Grassy, vegetal, mildly bitter | Delicate, light, slightly floral or sweet |
| Key Compounds | Theaflavins, thearubigins, caffeine | EGCG, catechins, L-theanine | Catechins, gallic acid, polyphenols |
| Antioxidant Capacity | Moderate | High (esp. EGCG) | Very high (least degraded by processing) |
| Notable Benefits | Heart health, alertness | Weight loss, metabolism, brain function | Anti-aging, skin health, cellular protection |
| L-theanine (calming amino acid) | Moderate | High | High |
| Tannins (bitterness/astringency) | High | Moderate | Low |
| Shelf Life | Long (up to 3 years if stored well) | Medium (6–12 months for best quality) | Short (very delicate; 6 months optimal) |
| Form Factors | Loose leaf, tea bags, instant tea | Loose leaf, matcha powder, extract, RTD drinks | Loose buds, sachets, premium whole-leaf teas |
| Common Uses | Breakfast teas, milk teas, iced teas, kombucha | Health drinks, matcha lattes, supplements | Luxury teas, skincare, antioxidant blends |
| Popularity Region | India, UK, Russia, Middle East | China, Japan, Korea, global health markets | China (Fujian), premium wellness sectors |
| Industrial Uses | Functional food, cosmetics, pharma, kombucha | Nutraceuticals, weight-loss, cosmeceuticals | Skincare, anti-aging, luxury wellness products |
🧪 Summary of Functional Differences
| Tea Type | Oxidation | Antioxidant Power | Caffeine | Main Bioactives | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Tea | High | Moderate | High | Theaflavins, caffeine | Energy, heart health, rich flavor lovers |
| Green Tea | Low | High | Medium | EGCG, L-theanine | Weight loss, alert calmness, antioxidants |
| White Tea | Minimal | Very High | Low | Catechins, polyphenols | Skin, anti-aging, gentle detox |
PRODUCT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Persian Name: چای سیاه/ Chai-e-Siah
German Name (Deutschland, Austria, Switzerland): Teestrauch
French Name (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec): Thé, Théier
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About Camellia Sinensis
It is a shrub from the genus of plants close to Mallow and from Theaceae family, which is up to two meters in height and up to seven meters in very suitable soil and areas, and up to ten meters if it grows wildly. The leaves are evergreen and dark green to black, oval and pointed, which is attached to the tea stem with petioles.
The flowers are small, white, often solitary, but sometimes appear in groups of two to three on the leaves side. The fruit has a gray color with three parts that come out after the ripening of the seeds, which contain one to two pieces in it. The seeds are oily and brown in color. Tea was first discovered in China.
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Black Tea Temperament
Hot and dry.
Camellia Sinensis Chemical Constituents
Content of caffeine, nitrogen, amino acids, polyphenols, gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), catechin gallate (CG), total catechins, theaflavin (TF) and theaflavin-3′-gallate (TF3′G) and infusion colour indicators of ΔL, Δa, Δb and ΔE were significantly correlated to total quality score (TQS).
Black Tea Health Benefits
Leaves
- Drink its brewed tea. It brightens the eyes and the complexion, stimulates blood flow and smooths the blood, smooths the voice and softens the chest and cures suffocation, strengthens muscles, strengthens brain operations. It helps with brain and mental activity, relieves sadness, regulates body temperature, quenches false thirst, treats frequent urination, stimulates skin secretions, treats ascites and jaundice, is sedative, relieves headaches, strengthens sexual power in cold temperaments.
- Boil it with White Tea, Green Tea and Saffron the size of a pea and drink its tea. It cures simple and bloody diarrhea.
- Brewed tea is a good solution for washing the eyes, disinfects the eyes and treats white spots on the eyes.
- Apply its brewed pulp on the anus. Relieves hemorrhoid pain and dries it.
Flower
Drink its brewed tea. It is useful for treating indigestion, diarrhea and ascites.
Black Tea Side Effects
People with stomach ulcers should avoid drinking it, it stains and blackens teeth, has a psychological and addictive effect, weakens liver cells, those with neurological or heart disease or gout or kidney stones should avoid it.
It causes general weakness of the body, in hot tempers, it decrease instinctual body temperature, causes weakness of the gastrointestinal tract, gastric laxity and decreased gastric secretions, excessive consumption causes constipation, anemia, causes the rapid pulse and disrupts the sleep center in the hypothalamus of the brain.
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