🍂 Grades & leaf
Orange Pekoe
A grade designation indicating the 'size and shape' of tea leaves, unrelated to the scent of oranges.
Orange Pekoe (OP) is a grade designation for larger, elongated, and twisted tea leaves. It is often mistakenly thought to refer to 'orange-flavored black tea,' but it has no relation to the fruit. The term is believed to derive from the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.
Grades are based on OP, with additional designations such as B for Broken, F for Flowery (including buds), G for Golden (indicating golden tips), and T for Tippy (indicating a higher number of tips). A long designation like SFTGFOP signifies that the tea contains a greater number of buds and has been crafted with care.
It is important to note that grades do not reflect the quality of taste. Even within the same OP grade, the flavor can vary significantly depending on the region and tea garden. The grade serves as a guideline for leaf shape, while taste should be chosen based on personal preference.
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