Organic Black Snail

The name comes from the shape. After harvest, the leaves are hand-rolled into tight spirals that look, if you're in the right mood, a bit like small snail shells. It's a processing style, not a single tightly-protected origin — Black Snail appears across several provinces, each with its own character. Our lot is from Hunan Province, where the mild climate and traditional farming practices produce a particularly sweet, aromatic cup.

What you get in the cup is a black tea that sits closer to the lighter, fruit-forward end of the spectrum than to the bold-and-brisk style you'd find in an English Breakfast blend. There's natural sweetness, floral notes (rose, in particular), and a fruit quality that reviewers describe as pear, peach, and apple — not in an artificial way, just the way good tea has native complexity. The liquor runs a clear reddish-amber. There's no bitterness; the finish is clean and slightly woody.

It's a forgiving tea. If you oversteep it — or just forget about it — it stays smooth. The character shifts a little at different temperatures too: 210°F brings out the sweetness; a few degrees lower pulls up more of the mineral notes underneath.

Brewing: 210°F, 2 minutes 30 seconds, 1.5 teaspoons (3g) per 8 oz cup. A short first rinse is optional but opens the leaves quickly. The leaves are good for three to four infusions — each one a bit different, the earlier steeps sweeter, the later ones quieter and more mineral.

Organic and sourced directly through a worker-owned cooperative in Hunan. USDA certified. We've carried this tea because it earns its place as an everyday drinker — not precious, not fussy, just reliably good.

FAQ

What does Black Snail tea taste like?

Sweet and smooth, with floral notes of rose and fruit — pear, peach, a hint of plum. Lighter in body than a typical morning black tea, with a clean, slightly woody finish and no bitterness. One customer described it as "strong, sweet, and nutty" while another caught "bites of pear, peach, and apple." The liquor is a clear reddish-amber.

Is Black Snail a good everyday tea?

Yes — that's the main reason we carry it. It's gentle enough to drink all morning and specific enough to be interesting. Several customers have made it their daily go-to; a few have stocked up in pounds. It's also forgiving: if you forget it steeping, it doesn't punish you with bitterness.

How much caffeine is in Black Snail tea?

Roughly 50mg per 8 oz cup — typical for black tea, about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee. The L-theanine naturally present in all tea smooths the energy curve, so it's calm alertness rather than a spike.

Can I steep the leaves more than once?

Three to four infusions is normal. The first cup is the sweetest and most floral; later steeps get quieter and slightly more mineral. Just add more hot water and steep a minute or two longer each time.

Does it work without milk?

Better without, actually. Corinne said it plainly: "It's rare I find a black tea that tastes even better without milk, but Black Snail is one of the few." The natural sweetness carries the cup on its own.