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).