Vietnam Black OP Loose Leaf Black Tea

Vietnam Black OP is a quiet revelation for anyone who loves a well-made loose leaf black tea but prefers something softer and more aromatic than the robust styles of Assam or Ceylon. Grown in the tea-producing highlands of Vietnam and crafted to the Orange Pekoe grade — meaning whole, unbroken leaves processed by orthodox methods — this is a tea that delivers genuine character without heaviness, and a mild, lightly spiced quality that is distinctive to Vietnamese black tea.

Vietnam's tea story is older than many people realise. Archaeological evidence points to wild tea trees in the northern highlands dating back thousands of years, and the country has been cultivating tea in earnest since the late nineteenth century, when the first commercial plantations were established in Phu Tho province in the north. Today Vietnam ranks among the world's top five tea exporters, and its black teas — once destined largely for blending — are increasingly valued in their own right. The orthodox black teas in particular have a personality that rewards attention: aromatic, smooth, and with a faint spiciness that comes from the processing method rather than any addition, making them a genuine alternative to more familiar black tea origins.

The Orange Pekoe grade means the leaf is whole and unbroken, which allows for a slower, more even extraction and a fuller expression of the tea's natural character. The liquor is warm reddish-amber in the cup, clear and inviting, with a smooth body, a gentle aromatic lift, and a clean, slightly spiced finish that lingers pleasantly. It is mild enough to enjoy at any point in the day and refined enough to drink without milk, though it also takes milk well for those who prefer it that way.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, offering over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections in the country. Teas like this one, from origins that deserve more attention than they typically receive, are exactly what the collection is here to celebrate.

Ingredients: Black tea.

Brewing Note: Vietnam Black OP is an unfussy tea that brews beautifully with a little care. Use water that has just come off the boil — around 90 to 95°C — and allow the leaf to steep for three to four minutes. This produces a smooth, aromatic cup with the tea's mild spiced character coming through cleanly. A shorter steep of two to three minutes gives something lighter and more delicate; longer steeping deepens the body without turning bitter. This tea is well suited to drinking without milk, which allows the natural warmth and aromatic quality of the leaf to come forward clearly, though it takes milk comfortably if that is your preference.