Black Honey Tea
Price range: £6.00 through £10.00
Origin: Taiwan
Shipping UK Mainland: £5
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Black Honey Loose Leaf Tea - Product Information
- 🍃 Tea Type: Black Tea (fully oxidised)
- 🗺 Origin: Miaoli County, Taiwan
- 🌱 Flavour: Naturally sweet, smooth, honey-like with fruity notes
- 🔄 Re-steeps: Yes – maintains flavour over multiple infusions
- 📦 Packaging: Loose leaf
Taiwanese Black Honey
Discover the rich, naturally sweet taste of Taiwanese Black Honey Tea, a unique loose leaf tea made with care in Taiwan’s lush tea-growing regions. This tea is famous for its natural honey-like flavour, created when tiny leafhoppers nibble on the tea leaves before harvest — triggering a natural process that develops complex, sweet, and fruity notes in the finished tea.
This Black Honey Tea is an affordable, approachable way to experience one of Taiwan’s most unique teas. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and forgiving to brew — making it ideal for daily drinking or for those discovering Taiwanese tea for the first time.
Taste & Aroma of Black Honey Tea
- 🍯 Natural honey-like sweetness from leafhopper activity
- 🌸 Subtle floral undertones with a smooth, rounded body
- 🍇 Notes of ripe fruit and malt, balanced without bitterness
Brewing Instructions
If you are new to loose leaf tea, you do not need any specialist equipment. View our beginner’s guide here:
Loose Leaf Tea Guide
UK Brewing
- 🌱 1 tsp (2–3g) loose leaf per 250ml cup
- 🔥 Water temperature: 90–95°C
- 🍵 Steep for 3–4 minutes (adjust to taste)
Gong Fu Brewing
- 🫖 5–6g tea in a 100–150ml gaiwan or small teapot
- 🔥 Water temperature: 90–95°C
- 🍵 First steep: 20–30 seconds, then add 5–10 seconds for each infusion
💡 Tip: This tea re-steeps beautifully, revealing new layers of natural sweetness with each infusion.
How We Source Our Tea
We travel to Taiwan to visit tea farms, taste seasonal harvests and select small batches of authentic loose leaf tea directly from the regions where they are produced.
Loose Leaf Tea Guide
New to loose leaf tea? Learn how to brew tea at home, explore different types and discover simple ways to enjoy a more satisfying cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Black Honey tea special?
Unlike other black teas, Honey Black Tea owes its signature flavour to the activity of leafhoppers, a small insect that bites the leaves. This natural interaction begins oxidation before the leaves are even picked, enhancing the tea with notes of honey, fruit, and floral sweetness.
The result is a smooth, mellow tea with no bitterness — making it a perfect choice for anyone exploring Taiwanese teas for the first time.
Is Black Honey tea a type of oolong?
Black Honey Tea (蜜香紅茶, Mìxiāng Hóngchá) is not an oolong, it’s actually a Taiwanese black tea.
Here’s why:
- It’s fully oxidised (like other black teas), not partially oxidised like oolong.
- The “honey” character comes from leafhopper insects (Jacobiasca formosana) biting the leaves. The plant reacts by producing compounds that give the tea its natural honeyed sweetness.
- It’s part of the specialty black tea movement in Taiwan, often grown in Miaoli, Hsinchu, or Pinglin.
Why Taiwanese Black Honey tea?
Taiwan is world-renowned for producing some of the finest loose leaf teas, thanks to its subtropical-to-tropical climate, high mountain terroir, and centuries of tea-making expertise. Black Honey Tea highlights Taiwan’s innovative tea culture — blending traditional craftsmanship with the island’s unique environment.
Should I add milk to Black Honey tea?
Black Honey Tea (蜜香紅茶) is naturally smooth, sweet, and aromatic thanks to the honeyed character created by leafhopper insects. Most tea drinkers enjoy it without milk, so its delicate floral and honey notes shine through. Best enjoyed plain, but milk is a personal choice.
Can I re-steep Black Honey tea leaves?
Yes. While black teas typically don’t re-steep as much as oolongs, good-quality Black Honey Tea can be infused 2–3 times. Each infusion reveals new layers of sweetness and aroma.
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