红茶起源于明朝中期（约16世纪）福建省武夷山桐木关地区，最早的品种称为正山小种。17世纪，中国与欧洲各国的贸易使红茶销往英国、荷兰等国，深受欧洲人的喜爱。18世纪，英国人将红茶种植技术带往印度，促使印度和斯里兰卡等地成为红茶生产大国。如今，红茶已成为世界性的茶饮，占全球茶叶销量中的70%。
Black tea originated in the middle of the Ming Dynasty (about the 16th century) in the Tongmuguan Wuyi Mountain Fujian Province. The earliest variety of red tea was Lapsang Souchong. In the 17th century, trade between China and the European countries meant black tea could be sold to Britain and the Netherlands. This type of tea became deeply loved by Europeans. In the 18th century, the British spread black tea plantation technology to India which impelled India and Sri Lanka etc. to become large producers of black tea. Black tea has now become an international tea drink, the sales volume of which accounts for the 70% of tea sales globally.
红茶从制茶技术上可分为小种红茶、工夫红茶和红碎茶三类，主要以茶叶叶片大小、颜色来区分。小种红茶，只有武夷山一代出产，具有独特的桂圆和烟熏香味；工夫红茶在中国占多数，从华东到云南一代皆有；红碎茶加工成细小的茶末，多以包装袋泡茶为主。
Black tea can be classified as either Souchong, Congou black tea and broken black tea according to the tea making technology. The major differences are their sizes and colors. Souchong is only produced in the region of Wuyi Mountain and it has a unique flavor of longan and smoke; Congou black tea is one of China’s major teas, harvested from Eastern China and Yunnan province; the broken black tea is processed into fine tea dust, most of which is packed in teabags.
红茶的品种一般以产地来命名，世界四大红茶：祁门红茶、大吉岭、阿萨姆和锡兰红茶均已产地来命名，滇红、川红、宜红、越红以及伊拉姆、肯尼亚等都是著名的品种。
In general, the different varieties of black tea are named after their places of origins. The Four Great Black Tea - Keemun Black Tea, Darjeeling Black Tea, Assam Black Tea and Ceylon Tea are all named after their origins. Dian (Yunnan) Black Tea, Chuan (Sichuan) Black Tea, Yi (Yichang Hubei) Black Tea, Yue (Zhejiang) Black Tea, Ilam Tea and Kenyan Black Tea etc. are all famous varieties.
中国红茶中较为人所知的茶款，则主要有祁门、正山小种与滇红等三种：
The major varieties of tea that Chinese people are familiar with include Keemun Black Tea, Lapsang Souchong and Dian (Yunnan) Black Tea:
祁门红茶
Keemun Black Tea
产于中国安徽祁门，在清朝光绪年以前，此区本以生产绿茶为主；之后于1875年自福建引进红茶制茶技术，1876年试制红茶成功，自此成为中国红茶里最受瞩目的一处，1939年总产量甚至达全中国红茶的三分之一。祁门红茶曾于1915年于巴拿马万国博览会上夺得金质奖，与印度大吉岭、锡兰乌巴并称为世界三大红茶。
Keemun Black Tea originated in Qimen Anhui. Before the regime of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, the majority of this regions tea output was green. After that, the technology for the manufacture of black tea was introduced from Fujian in 1875. In 1876, a black tea manufacture trial succeeded. From then on, this region has been the most looked to region in terms of black tea manufacture. The total output of black tea in this region accounted for one third of that of the whole country in 1939. Keemun Black Tea won the gold award the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition; it was referred to as one of the Three Black Teas of the World, along with Darjeeling Black Tea from India and the Ceylon Tea.
上好的祁红功夫茶色艳红，带有着饱满的香料、花、蜂蜜与焦糖香，滋味醇厚隽永，非常令人倾倒。其香气特别被称为“祁门香”，也被誉为“王子茶”。
The superior Keemun Black Tea is bright red with an intense fragrance of spice, flowers, honey and caramel. The flavor of the Keemun Black Tea is mellow with a long finish which is very fascinating. Its fragrance is called “Keemun fragrance” and Keemun Black Tea is hailed as the “Prince Tea”.
正山小种
Lapsang Souchong
正山小种是一种带有浓浓烟熏气息、味道浓烈的红茶。产自福建崇安县星村乡桐木关一带，位于武夷山北段海拔约1000～1500公尺处，气候冬暖夏凉，终年云雾笼罩。正山小种也称“桐木关小种”。其他如福建政和、坦洋、江西铅山等地模仿正山小种做法做出的小种茶，称为“外山小种”。
Lapsang Souchong is a kind of black tea with an intense smoky flavor and strong taste. It originated in Tongmuguan Xingcun Village Chong’an County Fujian, at an altitude of about 1000-1500 meters above sea at the north of Wuyi Mountain. The climate is fairly mild in winter and rather cool in summer and is shrouded in heavy clouds all the year round.
滇红
Dian (Yunnan) Black Tea
滇红茶是云南红茶的统称。滇红茶产区主要是云南澜沧江沿岸的临沧、保山、思茅、西双版纳、德宏、红河6个地州的20多个县。滇红工夫茶中，品质最优的是“滇红特级礼茶”，以1芽1叶为主制造而成，成品茶芽叶肥壮，苗锋秀丽完整，金毫显露，色泽乌黑油润，汤色红浓透明，滋味浓厚鲜爽，香气高醇持久，叶底红匀明亮。
Dian Black Tea is used to refer to Yunnan Black Tea. Dian Black Tea mostly originates from over 20 counties in the six cities including Lincang, Baoshan, Simao, Xishuangbanna, Dehong and Honghe along the Lancang River in Yunnan. Of the Congou Dian Black Tea, the “Superfine Ceremony Grade Dian Black” has the highest quality. It is mostly made from one sprout and one leaf and the finished tea has stout and strong sprouts and leaves. The tea tips are beautiful and complete with a golden edge. Its color is pitch-black and glossy and the tea water is red, intense and transparent. The flavor is strong, mellow and refreshing and the fragrance is intense, mellow and lasting. Tea dregs are red, uniform and bright.