What Blood Orange loose leaf tea actually is
Here is something worth clearing up right away. A lot of shops sell "blood orange tea" that is a caffeine free fruit blend, just dried fruit and peel with no actual tea leaf in it. Ours is not that. Our Blood Orange is a true black tea. The blend is black tea, sweet orange, wild blackberry, and safflower, so you get real citrus riding on top of a real tea base with real caffeine.
Blood oranges themselves come from the Mediterranean, mostly Sicily. They run deeper and redder than a regular orange, with a flavor that reads as orange plus a dark berry note. Pair that with a solid black tea and you get a cup that is bright up front and smooth underneath.
from our shop
Blood Orange
Bold black tea leaves, sweet orange peel, wild blackberry leaf, and safflower petals.
What it tastes like
The citrus is the star. Bright, zesty orange right up front, then the black tea comes through with body and a smooth finish. The wild blackberry adds a gentle natural sweetness that rounds out the citrus, and the safflower keeps the cup soft. Brewed right, there is no bitterness at all.
Do not take our word for it. Here is what real customers say after brewing it at home:
This was really good and refreshing! The citrus is the star of this blend, bright zesty orange notes, paired with bold and smooth black tea. It's slightly sweet with no bitterness. I didn't add anything to it, I thought it was perfect as is. Really enjoyed this one!
The aroma is half the fun. Hot water hits the orange peel and your whole kitchen smells like a citrus grove. That smell is why this one stops people at our tea cart.
How much caffeine is in it?
Blood Orange is a high caffeine tea. The black tea base carries moderate to high caffeine, which makes this a morning cup or an early afternoon pick-me-up, not a bedtime tea. If you want the citrus without the buzz, we carry caffeine free herbal and fruit blends too. Use the caffeine filter on our shop page and you will find them in a few seconds.
How to brew it hot
Black tea is not hard to brew, but it does care about time and temperature more than a fruit blend does. Here are the numbers we use.
- Leaf: 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces of water. Each serving size is based on one teaspoon.
- Water temperature: 200 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Just off a full boil is fine.
- Steep time: 3 to 5 minutes.
The one rule that matters: do not walk away and forget it. Black tea will turn bitter if you let it steep way past its window. Start at 4 minutes, taste it, and adjust from there. Stronger is fine. Forgotten for 20 minutes is not.
I brewed this blend at 200 degrees for 4 minutes. The result is a bold black tea bursting with bright orange citrus. The orange peel really shines while the black tea stays smooth and balanced. The blackberry leaf adds a gentle natural sweetness that helps round out the citrus, keeping the cup soft and easy to drink.
Milk, sweetener, and what to serve it with
Plain is how most people drink it, and it needs nothing. But a splash of milk does something special here. It softens the citrus and turns the cup into a smooth, creamy treat. Lindsey B., one of our reviewers, added a splash and said it turned into "a delicious smooth creamy and well rounded dessert tea. Such a treat!"
If you like it sweet, a small spoon of honey dissolves cleanly while it is hot. Food wise, it loves brunch. Pancakes, waffles, anything with berries. It also holds its own next to pound cake or shortbread, and the caffeine makes it a genuine coffee alternative with breakfast.
How to brew it iced, the Kentucky summer way
This tea makes a seriously good iced tea, and in a Louisville July that means something. Our go-to is a quick chill: brew it double strength so the ice does not water it down.
- Leaf: 2 teaspoons per 8 ounces of hot water
- Water: 200 to 212 degrees
- Steep: 4 to 5 minutes
- Then: pour the hot concentrate straight over a tall glass packed with ice
The ice thins the concentrate back to normal strength and drops the temperature fast. Bright, cold glass in about a minute.
Prefer cold brew? We sell Blood Orange in a Cold Brew Gallon Bag made exactly for this. Drop the bag in a gallon of cold water, park it in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours, and pull it in the morning. Cold brewing black tea keeps the caffeine and skips almost all of the bitterness, so the citrus and berry notes come out clean and smooth.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Oversteeping. This is a black tea, not a fruit blend. Past its window it will go bitter. Keep it in the 3 to 5 minute range.
- Water not hot enough. Lukewarm water gives you a thin, pale cup. Use water just off the boil.
- Not using enough leaf for iced. Ice is diluted flavor. Always brew iced tea stronger than you think you need.
- Drinking it at 9pm. This one has high caffeine. Enjoy it in the morning and save our herbal blends for the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Does blood orange tea have caffeine?
Ours does. Blood Orange is built on a black tea base, so it carries high caffeine. Plenty of shops sell blood orange as a caffeine free fruit blend, which is why the labels confuse people. Always check whether the blend you are buying is fruit only or black tea.
How much caffeine compared to coffee?
A cup of black tea generally lands well under a cup of coffee, but it is a real lift. If you are sensitive to caffeine, keep this one before noon and reach for our herbal blends after dinner.
Can I re-steep the leaves?
You can get a second cup out of a generous scoop. Add a minute or two to the steep time. The citrus softens on round two while the black tea base holds up.
How should I store it?
Airtight container, away from light, heat, and the spice cabinet. Loose leaf keeps its punch for months when it is sealed; the resealable bags we ship it in are made for exactly that.
What if I want the citrus without the caffeine?
We carry caffeine free herbal and fruit blends with big citrus notes. Filter by caffeine on the shop page and pick your favorite; the brewing gets even more forgiving with no tea leaf to oversteep.
Where to get it in Louisville
Blood Orange is one of the teas people come back for. It holds a 5.0 rating from our customers, and it is a regular on our mobile tea cart at markets, weddings, and events around Louisville. It comes in three sizes, Small (12 cups), Medium (24 cups), and Large (50 cups), plus the Cold Brew Gallon Bag for pitcher season.
Order it from our online shop for pickup or shipping, or catch us around town. Booking a wedding or a private event? Blood orange iced tea photographs like a dream and disappears fast. Head to our contact page and we will get you set up.
Try it hot on a cool morning or iced on a hot afternoon. Either way, it is bright, bold, and very easy to love.
thirsty yet?
Sip What We Write About
Every tea on the blog is brewed from the loose leaf we sell. Louisville pickup or shipped to your door.
Shop Loose Leaf TeaRyan Harris
Owner of The Real Mr. Tea, a Louisville loose leaf tea shop and mobile tea cart pouring at markets, weddings, and events across Kentucky. Every tea on this blog is one he blends, brews, and sells himself.
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