Skip to content
AlternativeMed

Black Tea

Black tea as a functional food: a meta-analysis on LDL cholesterol, a review on blood pressure with green tea, and caffeine. Green tea is in Herbs & Botanicals.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.

Overview

Black tea is made from Camellia sinensis leaves that are fully oxidized. It contains caffeine. Green tea is covered in Green tea; herbal teas in Herbal Teas.

What the research shows

  • A meta-analysis of randomized trials found black tea lowered LDL cholesterol by 4.64 mg/dL (95% CI -8.99 to -0.30), with no clear effect on total or HDL cholesterol; the lowering was greater in people at higher cardiovascular risk. [1]
  • A meta-analysis of 5 trials (408 people) of regular green or black tea in people with elevated blood pressure found reductions in systolic (-4.81 mmHg) and diastolic (-1.98 mmHg) pressure; excluding the most heterogeneous trials gave -3.53 and -0.99 mmHg; longer duration gave more benefit. [2] The review combined green and black tea.

Not shown: that tea prevents heart disease. Added milk, sugar and bottled tea sweeteners were not separated in the studies we read.

Safety and individual considerations

  • Caffeine can disturb sleep, raise heart rate and matter in pregnancy; we do not give a limit we did not verify.
  • Bottled iced teas can be high in added sugar. [3]

Related

Coffee · Green tea · Green vs black tea

Frequently asked questions

Is black tea healthy?

Trials show small improvements in LDL and blood pressure; effects are modest. [1][2]

References

  1. Zhao Y et al. Black tea consumption and serum cholesterol concentration: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr 2015. PMID 24972454.
  2. Mahdavi-Roshan M et al. The effects of regular consumption of green or black tea beverage on blood pressure in those with elevated blood pressure or hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med 2020. PMID 32507441.
  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025. Check the site for the current edition.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.