Customer Reviews

Orange Pekoe Tea, 125g

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Although often used as a quasi-blend name (particularly in connection with Indian and Ceylonese teas), "orange pekoe" is in fact a reference to a black tea's grade. Loose leaf black teas come in two basic groups - whole leaf and broken; in addition, there are "fannings" and "dust," the lower-grade remainders usually found in tea bags. Whole leaf tea grades are as follows (top quality within a grade is denoted by adding the number 1):

* Orange Pekoe (OP):

Long, thin, pointed leaves (larger than FOP, see below), rolled lengthwise and picked when the final buds open into leaf. Rarely contains "tips," i.e. the very ends of the bud's leaves, which constitute a guarantee of quality. Produces a light or pale color. The predominant whole leaf grade in Ceylon and Java.

* Pekoe (P) and Flowery Pekoe (FP):

Short, fleshier and less refined leaves without tips. Produces a stronger color than OP; found mainly in Ceylon and Southern India, but also in parts of Kenya.

* Flowery Orange Pekoe (FOP):

Fine, delicate, young leaves with a certain proportion of tips. Second grade tea in Assam, but top grade in most Chinese regions.

* Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (GFOP):

FOP with "golden" tips (tips of the particularly fine, golden-orange variety).

* Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (TGFOP):

FOP with many golden tips; the predominant grade in Darjeeling and Assam.

* Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (FTGFOP):

Outstanding golden-tipped FOP.

* Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (SFTGFOP):

Highest grade FOP with a large share of golden-tipped leaves; very rare.

Broken leaf ratings correspond to those for whole leaf teas, i.e.:

* Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP):

Less refined black leaf tea; the main broken grade in Ceylon, Southern India, Java and China. Produces a rich color and full-bodied taste. BOP1 (sometimes designated FBOPF - Finest Broken Orange Pekoe Flowery) is primarily found in the lower districts of Ceylon's tea-growing areas and consists of approximately 40 % OP and 60 % Pekoe and/or BOP.

* Golden Broken Orange Pekoe (GBOP):

Less refined broken grade; inhomogeneous leaves, some tips.

* Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe (FBOP):

Less refined broken tea with some tips from Assam, Ceylon, Indonesia, China or Bangladesh.

* Tippy Golden Broken Orange Pekoe (TGBOP):

Refined broken grade with a substantial number of golden tips.

* Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe (GFBOP):

Top broken grade in Assam and the only tippy broken grade from Kenya.

* Tippy Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe (TGFBOP):

Highest-grade broken leaves in Darjeeling and some parts of Assam. High tip content and uniform leaves.

Whittard's Orange Pekoe is an invigorating large-leaf Ceylonese blend with a distinctive flavor: Nothing to splurge on, but a reliable choice for every day.