The system Fe3+-5-Br-PADAP, in the presence of Triton X-100, has been studied. The molar ratio of Fe3+/5-Br-PADAP in the complex is 1:2 at pH 2–6; the molar absorptivity is 8.64 × 104at 595 nm and the apparent stability constant is1.84 × 1013. A more sensitive spectrophotometric method for iron determination was developed. The iron contents of Chinese leaf tea samples determined by this method are 0.024% for Qimen Black Tea and 0.037% for Tunxi Green Tea. The results are in agreement with those obtained by the o-phenanthroline method.