Black tea is classified into three categories based on the condition of the leaves: Full Leaf, Broken, and Fanning.
Full Leaf Grades
| Abbreviation | Pronunciation | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| S | Suchong | Large leaves from the lower part of the tree |
| P.S. | Pekoe Suchong | Thick and short leaves |
| P | Pekoe | Short leaves |
| O.P. | Orange Pekoe | Young leaves |
| F.O.P. | Flowery Orange Pekoe | Contains many tips |
| G.F.O.P. | Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe | Contains golden tips |
| T.G.F.O.P. | Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe | Contains a very high amount of golden tips |
| F.T.G.F.O.P. | Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe | Contains almost exclusively golden tips |
| S.F.T.G.F.O.P. | Special Fine Tippy … | Top quality in both the quality and quantity of golden tips |
If a grade has a "1" at the end, it may indicate a higher grade or that it is a spring harvest (first flush).
A higher grade does not guarantee better taste. Perception can vary depending on the year, brand, and personal taste. It is best to find tea leaves that suit your palate.
Broken Grades
- B.P.S. (Broken Pekoe Suchong)
- B.O.P. (Broken Orange Pekoe)
- F.B.O.P. (Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe)
- G.B.O.P. (Golden Broken Orange Pekoe)
- T.G.B.O.P. (Tippy Golden Broken Orange Pekoe)
For example, B.O.P. is made from tea leaves of the same grade as F.O.P.