Black Tea Cupping: Lesson 7 – Black Tea & Idea of grades

The history of tea tells us the story of how tea was discovered. The discovery of black tea is seldom mentioned. Black tea too was discovered by accident when experiments with fermentation were being carried out to increase the shelf life of green tea. All black teas are fully fermented or oxidized during the manufacturing process.

Fermentation is the word used traditionally but what actually takes place is oxidization, both terms are considered correct. At the end of manufacture the dried leaves are separated by size and cleaned. This separation is referred to as grading (Eg: OPA, Pekoe etc.). The cleaning process removes stalk & fiber to give the teas a Better appearance.

The taste and quality of tea will vary on many factors such as quality of plucked leaf, elevation of field, weather, region, origin, type of manufacture etc. There are two common types of manufacture for black tea being orthodox & CTC (cut, tear & curl). For easier understanding let’s just say it’s two different types of machines that produce orthodox grades & CTC grades. Samples 3 to 17 are some of the orthodox grades while samples 18 to 20 are CTC grades.

You will notice the CTC grades have a granular look & feel while being smaller in size. The grading of most teas studied here are based on “Pekoe” which is derived off the Chinese black tea type known as Pekoe. Some of the other terms used are “Broken”,

Orange, Flowery, Fannings, A & 1″.
Broken: cut or smaller leaf size
Orange: associated with cup colour
Flowery: twist of the leaf
Fannings: smaller leaf
A: lower quality
1: better quality
Trying to understand grades based on above can be confusing. Therefore, we
recommend learning grades based only on shape & name.

Sample 1 – OPA (Orange Pekoe A)

This is the largest leaf particle produced during orthodox manufacture. A bold, large leaf tea.

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Large
Appearance: leafy & bold

Sample 2 – OP1 (Orange Pekoe 1)

The longest and most wiry leaf produced during orthodox manufacture. Wiry teas are
preferred to the bolder types.

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Large
Appearance: leafy & wiry.

Sample 3 – Pekoe

A shotty tea produced during orthodox manufacture. All grading revolves around this tea
type. The shottier types are preferred to the less twisted & flaky types.

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Medium
Appearance: Shotty

Sample 4 – BM (Broken Mixed)

A flaky (open leaf) tea produced during orthodox manufacture. This grade has no twist
and is considered low quality.

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Medium
Appearance: Flaky or open.

Sample 5 – FBOP Flowery broken orange pekoe

Well twisted small leaf tea produced during Orthodox manufacture
Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Medium
Appearance: Well twisted & somewhat wiry.

Sample 6 – BOPF Broken orange pekoe fannings

Small leaf tea produced during orthodox manufacture, renowned globally as English
breakfast tea, with good color and strength suitable for consumption with milk and sugar
Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Slightly flaky & clean.

Sample 7 – FNGS 1 Fannings 1

Small leaf tea variety produced during orthodox manufacture considered of lower quality
due to a high fiber percentage this type of tea is often used for production of tea bags

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Slightly flaky with some fiber.

Sample 8 – FNGS Fannings

Small leaf tea variety produced during orthodox manufacture considered of lower quality
due to a high fiber percentage this type of tea is often used for production of tea bags

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Slightly flaky with some fiber.

Sample 9 – Dust 1

The smallest variety of tea produced during Orthodox manufacture this grade of tea gives good color and strength in the cup

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Powdery & clean.

Sample 10 – Dust

The smallest variety of tea produce during orthodox manufacture containing some fiber
and slightly brownish in color, brings out good color and strength in the cup.

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Powdery with some fiber.

Sample 11 – BMF Broken mixed fannings or Refuse Tea

The stock and fiber removed from T during the manufacturing process these particles
from the stems off the leaf retail sales of this type of tea is prohibited in order to
maintain high standards of black tea however this refuse tea can be used for the
production of instant tea and ready to drink please usually found in bottles

Type of manufacture: Orthodox
Leaf size: Variable
Appearance: Excessive stalk or fiber.

Sample 12 – BP1 Broken pekoe 1

The larger size leaf particle produced during CTC manufacture this grade produces
good color and strength in the cup

Type of manufacture: CTC
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Granular of slightly larger size.

Sample 13 – PF1 Pekoe fannings 1

A smaller sized leave article produced during CTC manufacture. This grade produces
good color and strength in the cup making it suitable for consumption with milk and
sugar. Could be used as English breakfast tea & often used in tea bags.

Type of manufacture: CTC
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Small granular.

Sample 14 – PD Pekoe Dust

A smaller sized leaf particle produced during CTC manufacture. This grade produces
most color and strength in the cup making it suitable for consumption with milk and sugar.

Type of manufacture: CTC
Leaf size: Small
Appearance: Powdery & granular.