There are no international official standards for such a classification, below are the categories found on tea exchanges.
Basic quality – Pekoe (read Orange Peko) or OP.
Orange Peko (OP) indicates that the tea is made from two upper young leaves covered with a soft fluff (a very young, delicate tea leaf). One-piece rolled sheet. Tea has a strong infusion and pleasant aroma, which varies depending on the place of growth.
“Peko” (R) – freshly blossomed tea leaves. Leaves rolled into a spherical shape, giving not strong tea with a delicate taste and aroma.
“Flower” (F) – indicates that the variety of tea may contain tips (buds).
“Brokken” (B) – medium leaf broken tea
“Fannings” (F) – seeded from the pulp of the tea leaf, which is used mainly for the production of tea bags
“Dast” (D) – crumbs, the smallest particles of tea leaves
The most common tea abbreviations
– Peko – tea made from leaves twisted into a spherical shape. When brewed, the tea leaves bloom, and you get an excellent drink with a delicate taste and mild aroma. Large leaf tea with a strong infusion.
– Orange Peko. This is how the Dutch began to call the best varieties of tea, in honor of the dynasty of princes of Orange, ruling in the 16th century. Thus, “orange” is “tea supplied to the court” or “tea worthy of the Prince of Orange.” Peko comes from the Chinese pakho, which means baby hair, that is, a delicate tea leaf … Large leaf tea with a strong infusion.
– Orange Peko, category A – tea made from whole (up to 3-4 cm long) upper most juicy leaves. When brewed, a tea drink with an orange tint, delicate taste and aroma is obtained.
– Orange pekoe, category 1 – a type of high quality large leaf tea with medium strength infusion.
– Small leaf tea with strong infusion
– Medium leaf tea made from broken leaves and tips (leaf buds) with a strong infusion.
– Flowery Orange Pekoe (Flower Orange Pekoe) – consists of tender young leaves with a certain addition of “tips”, that is, the very tips of the leaves of the bud. The number of tips indicates the quality of the tea.
– Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe – FOP tea with “golden tips” (tips of special “golden” leaves of the bud).
– Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe – FOP tea with an increased amount of “golden tips”.
– Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe – FOP tea of exceptionally high quality.
– Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe – the best FOP tea with a high content of “golden tips” of young leaves – a guarantee of extremely high quality tea. Only the best and rare black tea in the world deserves this category.
– granulated tea. When brewed, it acquires a golden hue with a medium strength infusion.
– green tea made using a special technology of roasting in a Chinese frying pan. Strong tea with a unique aroma. Large-leaved.
– Large-leaved green tea with a mild taste and aroma, with a light infusion.