Black tea bags: Assam, Ceylon and Indian chai blends explained

Black tea bags are the quickest way to a strong cup, and the two names you see most are Assam and Ceylon. In a Polish shop, look for "herbata czarna ekspresowa": "herbata czarna" is black tea and "ekspresowa" means it is in bags. Assam bags give a malty, heavy cup that takes milk well; Ceylon bags give a brighter, brisker cup that also works without milk.

Assam, Ceylon and the rest: what the names mean

The name on the box usually tells you where the tea grew.

• Assam comes from the state of Assam in north-east India. The tea is dark and malty. It is the base of most Indian breakfast tea and of milky chai.
• Ceylon is tea from Sri Lanka (the island's old name). It is lighter in colour and has a crisp, slightly citrus taste. A good choice if you drink tea black or with lemon, the way many Poles do.
• Darjeeling grows in the hills of West Bengal. It is light and floral, and it is usually sold loose rather than in bags.
• Blends such as "English Breakfast" or a brand's "premium" tea mix teas from several regions for a steady taste.

Two Ceylon bag teas that many expats ask for are Mahmood Tea Ceylon black tea, 100 bags and Akbar Pure Ceylon, 100 bags. For a malty Assam taste, there is Ahmad Tea Assam loose leaf if you can live without bags.

Polish words on a tea box

You will meet these words on almost every pack in Poland:

"Granulowana" is worth knowing. Indian household teas such as Red Label and Tata Tea Gold are sold as small granules (CTC tea). They are not bags, but they brew fast and strong, and many families prefer them for chai made in a pan.

Chai blends in tea bags

If you want masala chai without grinding spices, there are two simple routes.

1. Spiced tea bags. Black tea with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon or clove already in the bag. Examples: masala chai tea bags and Mahmood Tea with cardamom.
2. Plain bags plus a spice mix. Use a strong Assam or Ceylon bag and add a pinch of chai masala to the pan.

How to brew black tea bags

A plain cup: pour freshly boiled water over one bag, wait 3 to 5 minutes, then take the bag out. Longer brewing makes the cup more bitter, not stronger in a pleasant way.

Chai in a pan, for two cups:

1. Bring 1 cup of water to the boil with 2 crushed green cardamom pods and a slice of fresh ginger.
2. Add 2 or 3 black tea bags and boil for 1 minute.
3. Add 1 cup of milk and sugar to taste.
4. Let it rise to the boil twice, lowering the heat each time.
5. Squeeze the bags, take them out and pour through a small sieve.

Polish tap water is hard in many cities. If your tea looks dull or has a film on top, try filtered water.

Green tea bags

Green tea bags ("herbata zielona ekspresowa") need cooler water than black tea: let the kettle stand for a few minutes after it boils, then brew for 2 to 3 minutes. Boiling water makes green tea taste bitter. The shop has a separate green tea category.

Where to buy black tea bags in Poland

All the teas above are in the black tea category of Little India, with Indian, Sri Lankan and British brands side by side. Little India has shops in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk and also ships orders online across Poland. See our guide to finding an Indian shop in Poland for the addresses, and our guide to Ceylon tea.