Grades of Tea
PEKOE - Leaves of similar size from the same branch
TGFOP - (Tippy golden flowery orange pekoe) highest grade
Usually full leaf tea from India: Darjeeling and Assam.
Golden refers to light coloured buds.
ORANGE PEKOE (OP) - Leaves are long, thin and rolled lengthwise. Generally higher quality than pekoe leaves
FANNINGS - very small, broken leaves slightly larger than dust
DUST - the smallest broken leaves after all manufacturing processes are finished.
LOOSE TEA - Generally refers to whole leaves
PROCESSED TEA - refers to leaves that have been sieved to sort leaves to uniform sizes.
SOUCHONG - grading refers to large, intact leaves, curled up at edges, twisted lengthwise.
BROKEN GRADES - refers to teas
that have been mechanically
crushed. Generally used for tea bags.
