Black tea Black tea Black tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than oolong, green, and white teas. Black tea is generally stronger in flavour than the less oxidized teas. All four types are made from leaves of the shrub (or small tree) "Camellia sinensis." Two principal varieties of the species are used – the small-leaved Chinese variety plant ("C. sinensis" var. "sinensis"), used for most other types of teas, and the large-leaved Assamese plant ("C. sinensis" var. "assamica"), which was traditionally mainly used for black tea, although in recent years some green and white teas have been produced.
Camellia number of "Lepidoptera" species; see List of Lepidoptera that feed on Camellia. Leaves of the Japanese camellia ("C. japonica") are susceptible to the fungal parasite "Mycelia sterile" (see below for the significance). "Camellia sinensis", the tea plant, is of major commercial importance because tea is made from its leaves. The species "C. sinensis" is the product of many generations of selective breeding in order to bring out qualities considered desirable for tea. However, many other camellias can be used to produce a similar beverage. For example, in some parts of Japan, tea made from "C. sasanqua" leaves is popular. Tea