After researching and reading over 10+ notable tea blogs, comparing them between each other, and even eating (a very tiny amount) of black tea leaves ourselves, it’s safe to say that black tea leaves are edible.
But it’s definitely not worth it. The taste is bitter and the texture isn’t so inviting either. We’d rather steep black tea leaves and drink it.
Unless you want to eat bitter, chewy (not the good kind of chew), and dried up leaves— be our guest!
Eating vs Drinking Black Tea Leaves
We’ve already mentioned it, and we’ll say it again. We do not suggest eating black tea leaves for its taste and texture.
If you were to eat it for health benefits, we can understand though. The same benefits you gain from drinking steeped black tea is the same in which you’ll gain from eating the tea leaves itself.
Keep in mind though, it may or may not be as nutrient-rich as it is when steeped as a drinkable tea.
As you steep black tea leaves, the heat of the water produces chemical reactions that release many of its rich nutrients. These nutrients may not be as rich or dense when you eat the black tea leaves themselves.
Eating black tea leaves is not common for a reason, let’s stick to drinking black tea instead.
Are Tea Leaves Poisonous?
Regular consumption of black tea or any other type of tea is not poisonous. It’s actually one of the healthiest and nutrient-rich drinks you can consume.
A healthy amount of tea consumption ranges from 1-2 cups per day.
Unless you’re drinking an excessive amount of tea per day (4-5 cups or more), you are generally okay. You may have higher energy levels throughout the entire day if anything.
But of course, we encourage you to do your own research on how much tea is good for you. If you think you’re drinking a bit too much, consult a professional for advice.
If you’re looking for new tea brands to try, we’d recommend tasting one of these below. After drinking 5+ cups of black tea per week we’ve enjoyed the taste of these the most.
Other black tea articles you might enjoy with your time here at Talk Boba.
