Common Leaf Grades

Leaf (SFTGFOP1, FTGFOP1, TGFOP1, GFOP, FOP) = 6%

small Leaf (FP, PEKOE) = 20%
large Broken (FBOP) = 15%

fine Broken (GFBOP, GBOP) = 20%

Fannings (BOPF, OF) + Dust (PD) both are for tea bags only = 39%

Explanation of the abbreviations:

S (=Super) F (=Finest) T (=Tippy) G (= Golden) F (= Flowery) O (=Orange) P (=Pekoe)

F (=Flowery) P (=Pekoe)

G (=Golden) F (=Flowery) B (=Broken) O (=Orange) P (=Pekoe).

B (=Broken) O (=Orange) P (=Pekoe) F (=Fannings)

When sorting the finished, fermented tea, it is distinguished between 4 different Leaf grades:

Leaf – Tea

Broken – Tea

Fannings

Dust

Large leaf teas are distinguished by the following quality grades:

Pekoe are fine hairs on the flower buds and the bottom of the leaves of the youngest shoots.

Flowery Pekoe are leaf shoots of the Spring plucking period with a delicate scent

Orange Pekoe = royal leaf (long, larger leaf)

Following these leaf grades, inferences can be made on the leaf size and structure.
Broken teas have a larger leaf surface, the tea infuses quicker and the colour is developed more rapidly.
Pekoe Tea is stronger in the cup and has a roughly rolled, ball-like leaf.

The most important grades in the broken tea segment:

FBOP Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
GFBOP Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
TGFBOP Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
Small-leaved teas with a lot of aroma and many tips.

The most important grades in the leaf tea segment:

FOP Flowery Orange Pekoe
GFOP Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
TGFOP Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe

These groupings include a thin, wiry leaf with more or less proportions of tips (these do not become brown during fermentation due to their low content of tannins).