Orthodox tea refers to either hand-processed tea or tea that is rolled with machinery in a manner that mimics hand-rolling. Most specialty tea is made with orthodox production methods. CTC teas are stronger and have a tendency to include bitter notes. These teas are often preferred to be mixed with milk or other additives to counteract the bitterness and enjoy as milk tea.

The leaf is rolled to encourage oxygen exposure to enzymes in the leaf. This is sometimes called fermentation, but this is a misnomer, as there is no actual microbial fermentation. These changes dull the astringent nature of the tea leaf, bring out sweet and dried fruit notes, and give Red tea it's distinctive red golden hue.

Black tea can also be called fermented tea or more commonly known as dark tea. One of the most distinct things you’ll notice about black tea is just how strong the taste is. It has a very unique flavor and tastes a lot stronger than the average white tea and the green tea.