China black is a fermented tea with a dark leaf and pleasing aroma. The infusion gives a clear red liquor with a strong though mellow taste. Each variety displays local characteristics, due to different topography, climate, soil, species and processing techniques.

BOP: Broken Orange Pekoe
Small broken-leaf grade. The liquor usually has good color with strength in the cup. It is used in many grades.

CTC: Cutting, Tearing and Curling
The leaves undergo withering, fermentation and cut in CTC machine to give it a grainy shape and are finally dried in a dryer.

OP: Orange Pekoe
Long, thin, wiry leaves that sometimes contain leaf buds. The liquor is light to dark in color. The OP Classification is often confused by consumers who mistakenly believe it refers to tea flavor as opposed to leaf size.

P: Pekoe
Small, shorter leaves that are not as wiry as OP leaves. Whole leaves of a uniform size; may include leaves picked from lower on the branch (leaf bud and two leaves below the bud)

FOP: Flowery Orange Pekoe
A leaf that is as long or longer than an OP but not as tightly rolled. The liquor tends to be lighter than broken grades. "Flowery" indicates tender leaf buds.

FBOP: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
It is usually larger than the standard BOP and often contains silver and brown tips. The tips are not pieces of flower, but tender new leaf buds.

GFBOP: Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
A BOP with more tip than the FBOP. Tips do not necessarily add to the quality of the cup; however, most top grades do have tips.

GFTOP: Golden Flowery Tippy Orange Pekoe
This typically describes a top grade of full-leaf Darjeeling and Assam teas. The tip may comprise up to 25 percent of the whole leaf. Buds have a lighter color than leaves, hence the "golden" nomenclature.

Tea in Boxes :: Exotica
Tea in Boxes :: PG Tips
Tea in Boxes :: Twinings

Tea in Tins :: Tempest

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