Key takeaways

• Black tea with berries is Ceylon tea blended with dried berries and natural flavour.
• It is different from fruit infusions, which contain no tea.
• Ceylon tea stays clear when iced, making excellent berry iced tea.
• Fruit adds natural sweetness, so less sugar is needed.
• It suits summer menus, mocktails and younger tea drinkers.

Introduction

If you think tea has to be serious, try a cup of black tea with berries. The deep, bright colour of Ceylon tea meets the juicy sweetness of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackcurrants, and the result is a tea that tastes like summer. Hot, it is warm and comforting, like a fruit crumble. Iced, it is one of the most refreshing drinks you can make.

Fruit-flavoured black teas are among the most popular flavoured teas in the world, especially with younger tea drinkers, families and anyone who prefers a naturally sweet, fruity cup. They are also wonderful for iced tea, mocktails and summer menus.

Hakgala, the Ceylon tea brand of Raiden (Pvt) Ltd, blends Ceylon black tea from Raiden’s own plantations with dried berries and natural fruit flavour in its Black Tea with Berries. It is produced under local and international certifications, and Dsigngo Marketing manages the brand worldwide.

This article explains the berries used in fruit teas, how fruit and tea work together, how Hakgala makes its blend, how to brew it hot and iced, recipes for drinks and desserts, and how cafés, hotels and retailers can use it.

What is black tea with berries?

It is a fruit-flavoured black tea: black tea blended with dried berries and natural berry flavourings. The berries add colour, aroma and natural sweetness, while the black tea provides body and a gentle astringency that balances the fruit.

Black tea with berries is different from a fruit infusion (sometimes called “fruit tea”), which contains no tea at all, only dried fruit, hibiscus and herbs. Black tea with berries contains real tea, so it has a fuller body and contains caffeine.

The berries in fruit teas

Many berry blends also include hibiscus, a flower that gives a deep red colour and a pleasantly tart flavour, and pieces of apple, which add natural sweetness and body.

A short history of fruit-flavoured tea

People have added fruit to tea for centuries. In China, tea was sometimes served with dried fruit or scented with fruit blossoms. In Russia, tea has long been sweetened with fruit jam or served with lemon. In Britain and Europe, the twentieth century brought a fashion for flavoured teas, and blends with fruit pieces and natural flavourings became popular in tea shops and supermarkets.

Iced tea, popularised in the United States in the early twentieth century, made fruit teas even more popular, because fruit flavours are especially refreshing when cold. Today, berry teas are found in tea shops, cafés and supermarkets around the world, and they are among the most popular flavoured teas for iced drinks.

How fruit and tea work together

Black tea and fruit are natural partners:

• Balance: tea’s gentle astringency balances fruit’s sweetness, so the cup is not cloying.
• Colour: berries deepen the red of black tea, especially when iced.
• Aroma: fruity aromas lift tea’s malty, woody notes.
• Natural sweetness: berries make the tea taste sweet with little or no added sugar.

Ceylon tea is a particularly good base for fruit, because its brightness, clean taste and natural citrus and honey notes complement berry flavours, and because it stays clear when iced, rather than going cloudy.

How Hakgala makes Black Tea with Berries

Hakgala Black Tea with Berries combines bright Ceylon black tea from Raiden’s own plantations with dried berries and natural berry flavour. Bright BOP grades are chosen because they give a lively cup and stay clear when iced (see Small-Leaf Ceylon Black Tea Grades: BOP, BOPF, FBOP, the Flowery Fannings and Dust). Each batch is tasted both hot and iced, because that is how most people enjoy it, and sealed in Sri Lanka to keep the fruit fresh and dry.

How Hakgala Black Tea with Berries tastes

How to brew Black Tea with Berries

Hot

1. Heat fresh water to the boil (about 95–100°C).
2. Use one tea bag or 2.5–3 grams of loose blend per 250ml cup. Fruit pieces are bulky, so use a little more than for plain tea.
3. Brew for 4–5 minutes to let the fruit release its flavour.
4. Enjoy it plain, or with a little honey.

Iced (the classic way)

1. Brew 4 tea bags or 10–12 grams of loose blend in 500ml of boiling water for 5 minutes.
2. Strain, and sweeten lightly with honey or sugar while hot, if you like.
3. Add 500ml of cold water and chill.
4. Serve over ice with fresh berries and mint.

Cold brew

Steep 12 grams of loose blend in a litre of cold water in the fridge for 8–12 hours, then strain. Cold brewing gives a smooth, naturally sweet, very fruity iced tea.

Tips for the perfect jug of iced tea

1. Brew strong. Ice dilutes the tea, so brew at double strength or use more tea.
2. Do not over-brew. Longer brewing makes iced tea bitter. Five minutes is enough for berry tea.
3. Sweeten while hot. Sugar and honey dissolve best in hot tea. For a lighter drink, use less sweetener and let the fruit provide sweetness.
4. Cool quickly. Add cold water or ice soon after brewing to keep the colour bright and the flavour fresh.
5. Use plenty of ice. A glass full of ice keeps the drink cold and dilutes it less than a few cubes that melt quickly.
6. Garnish generously. Fresh berries, citrus slices and mint make iced tea look as good as it tastes.
7. Keep it fresh. Store iced tea in the fridge and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavour.

Lighter options: less sugar, more flavour

Many people want refreshing drinks with less sugar. Berry tea helps, because the fruit adds natural sweetness and aroma. Try these ideas:

• Cold-brew the tea, which tastes naturally sweeter and smoother than hot-brewed tea.
• Add fresh fruit to the glass instead of extra sugar.
• Use a small amount of honey, or a light syrup, instead of a lot of sugar.
• Mix berry tea with sparkling water for a light, fizzy drink.

Four berry tea recipes

Berry iced tea lemonade

Mix equal parts cold Black Tea with Berries and fresh lemonade. Serve over ice with lemon slices and raspberries.

Sparkling berry tea spritzer

Fill a glass with ice, add 150ml of cold-brewed berry tea and top with soda water. Garnish with blueberries and a sprig of mint.

Berry tea smoothie

Blend 100ml of strong, cold berry tea with a banana, a handful of frozen berries and 100g of yoghurt.

Berry tea jelly

Dissolve gelatine in 500ml of sweetened hot berry tea, pour over fresh berries in small glasses and chill until set. A light dessert that children love.

What to eat with Black Tea with Berries

• Breakfast: pancakes, waffles, yoghurt with granola and fruit.
• Cakes and pastries: muffins, scones, cheesecake and berry tarts.
• Chocolate: dark and milk chocolate, brownies.
• Light meals: salads, chicken sandwiches and mild cheeses.
• Sri Lankan snacks: butter cake, Swiss rolls and biscuits.

Berry teas for summer menus

Berry teas are a natural choice for summer and hot climates, including Sri Lanka and the Gulf:

These drinks are colourful, refreshing and photograph beautifully for social media, which makes them popular with cafés and hotels.

A tasting flight for cafés

Cafés can introduce customers to fruit teas with a simple tasting flight of three small glasses:

Flights like this are easy to prepare, encourage customers to try something new, and often lead to a full-size drink or a pack to take home.

A tea for younger drinkers and families

Fruit teas often attract people who do not usually drink tea. Their natural sweetness and familiar fruit flavours make them approachable, and iced versions compete with soft drinks and juices as a lighter option. For families, a lightly brewed, well-diluted berry iced tea with little or no added sugar can be a refreshing drink, though parents should remember that it contains caffeine.

Berry tea in a tropical climate

In hot, humid places such as Sri Lanka and the Gulf, cold drinks are part of daily life. Berry iced tea offers a lighter alternative to fizzy soft drinks and very sweet juices, with the natural refreshment of tea and fruit. It is easy to make in large jugs for the family, for office pantries or for hotel breakfast buffets, and it keeps well in the fridge for a day. Served with plenty of ice, fresh mint and lime, it is a simple way to stay cool on the hottest afternoons.

Berry tea in desserts and baking

Berry tea is not only for drinking. Its fruity aroma and colour work well in the kitchen:

• Poached fruit: poach pears or apples in sweetened berry tea until tender and pink.
• Sorbet: freeze sweetened berry tea with a little lemon juice, stirring every hour, for a light sorbet.
• Cake syrup: brush warm sponge cakes with a syrup of berry tea and sugar.
• Ice lollies: freeze sweetened berry tea with pieces of fresh fruit in moulds.

Natural flavourings and real fruit

When buying any fruit-flavoured tea, look at the ingredients list. Good berry teas contain real pieces of dried fruit as well as flavourings, and natural flavourings generally give a fresher, more rounded taste than artificial ones. Hakgala Black Tea with Berries contains dried berries and natural flavourings.

How to judge a good berry tea

1. Real fruit: visible pieces of dried berries.
2. Balance: you should taste both tea and fruit.
3. Natural aroma: fresh, jammy fruit rather than a sweet-shop smell.
4. Colour: a deep, bright red when brewed, and clear when iced.
5. Refreshing finish: fruity and clean, not cloying.

Loose tea or tea bags?

Caffeine and wellbeing

Black Tea with Berries contains black tea, so it contains caffeine. Berries do not change the caffeine content, although using more fruit and less tea in a cup lowers it slightly. Hakgala makes no medical claims for its teas.

Black Tea with Berries compared with other Hakgala blends

How to store Black Tea with Berries

Dried fruit absorbs moisture easily, so store the blend in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from light and strong smells, and separately from unflavoured teas. Keep opened packs sealed and use within a few months.

Black Tea with Berries for businesses

Raiden (Pvt) Ltd supplies Hakgala Black Tea with Berries and private label versions, and Dsigngo Marketing designs the packaging and menu materials. The Ceylon Tea Import and Export guide explains how we work with overseas buyers.

An example in practice

The following example is illustrative and does not describe a real client.

A beach resort on Sri Lanka’s south coast wants a signature non-alcoholic drink for its pool bar, something colourful, refreshing and locally made.

Dsigngo Marketing proposes a “Ceylon Berry Cooler”: cold-brewed Hakgala Black Tea with Berries, lime, mint and soda water, served in tall glasses with fresh fruit. The bar team tests it, and guests love the colour and taste. Dsigngo designs a menu card and social media visuals, and Raiden supplies the blend in catering packs.

Frequently asked questions

Is black tea with berries the same as fruit tea?

No. Black tea with berries contains real black tea. “Fruit tea” or fruit infusion usually contains only fruit, flowers and herbs, without tea.

Which berries are in Hakgala Black Tea with Berries?

Dried berries with natural berry flavour, blended with Ceylon black tea.

Is it good iced?

Yes. It is one of the best teas for iced tea, because Ceylon tea stays clear and the berries give a deep colour and natural sweetness.

Does it need sugar?

Many people find it sweet enough without sugar, thanks to the fruit. Add a little honey if you prefer.

Does it contain caffeine?

Yes, because it contains black tea.

Can children drink it?

It contains caffeine, so parents should consider this. A lightly brewed, diluted iced tea is a lighter option than many soft drinks.

Can I add milk to berry tea?

It is usually enjoyed without milk, because milk can clash with the fruit’s acidity. For a creamy drink, try blending cold berry tea with yoghurt in a smoothie instead.

Why is my iced berry tea cloudy?

Cloudiness usually happens when strong tea is chilled too slowly. Cool it quickly with cold water or ice, or cold-brew it overnight for a crystal-clear result.

How should I store it?

In an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from other teas.

Conclusion

Black tea with berries is fruity, colourful and refreshing, a tea that tastes like summer hot or iced. Ceylon tea’s brightness and clarity make it a perfect partner for juicy berries, and the blend is a favourite for iced teas, mocktails and summer menus.

Hakgala Black Tea with Berries combines Ceylon black tea from Raiden’s own plantations with dried berries and natural flavour, produced under local and international certifications and presented by Dsigngo Marketing for homes, cafés, hotels and importers.

Looking for a fruity tea for iced drinks, summer menus or retail? Contact Dsigngo Marketing for samples and product details.

Ask about Hakgala Black Tea with Berries

Related reading

• English Breakfast Tea: History, Flavour and the Hakgala Ceylon Blend
• English Afternoon Tea Blend: A Lighter, Brighter Ceylon Cup for Afternoon Tea
• Irish Breakfast Tea: The Boldest Breakfast Blend, Made with Ceylon Tea
• Earl Grey Tea: Bergamot, History and the Hakgala Ceylon Earl Grey
• Lapsang Souchong Smoked Tea: History, Flavour and the Hakgala Smoked Ceylon Tea
• Spiced Masala Tea: Ceylon Tea with Sri Lankan Spices, and How to Make Perfect Chai
• Rose and French Vanilla Tea: A Floral, Sweet Ceylon Black Tea
• Jasmine Green Tea: The Art of Scenting Tea with Flowers, and the Hakgala Ceylon Version
• Mint Green Tea: From Moroccan Mint Tea to the Hakgala Ceylon Blend
• Lemongrass Green Tea: A Citrus-Fresh Ceylon Tea with a Sri Lankan Herb
• Lychee White Tea: Delicate Ceylon White Tea with the Sweetness of Lychee
• Hand-Made White Tea: Ceylon Buds Carefully Shaped by Hand
• Ceylon Black Tea: Regions, Grades, Flavour and How to Brew
• Arabica Coffee: Flavour, Growing Conditions and Why It Leads the World
• Ceylon Tea Grade Nomenclature: The Complete Guide to Every Tea Grade
• Ceylon Tea Import and Export: How Raiden (Pvt) Ltd and Dsigngo Bring Pure Ceylon Tea to the World

Sources

• UK Tea and Infusions Association, fruit and herbal infusions: https://www.tea.co.uk/fruit-and-herbal-infusions
• Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka, Tea Grade Nomenclature: https://teasrilanka.org/tea-grade
• Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Ceylon tea industry capability: https://www.srilankabusiness.com/tea/about-tea/industry-capability.html
• Raiden (Pvt) Ltd company profile: https://www.raiden.lk