Understanding Tea Grades: From Leaf to Cup

At Joseph’s Tea, we believe that every sip tells a story, and part of that story begins with understanding tea grades. These grading terms don’t describe flavor or quality alone, but rather the size, shape, and style of the tea leaf after processing. Knowing these grades helps you appreciate your cup of tea even more. Let’s explore!

Whole Leaf Grades – The Largest Leaves

• OP – Orange Pekoe
  Long, whole tea leaves that brew into a delicate and lighter cup. Despite its name, Orange Pekoe has nothing to do with oranges — it’s all about leaf size and appearance.

• PS Premium – Pekoe Souchong Premium
  Large, coarse leaves with premium uniformity. Known for a refined, balanced cup.

• PS 1st Grade – Pekoe Souchong First Grade
  Slightly less uniform than Premium, but still a respected high-grade tea.

• PS Green – Pekoe Souchong Green
  The same large-leaf classification, but processed as green tea instead of black. Fresh, grassy, and light in taste.

Broken Leaf Grades – Medium Strength

• BOP – Broken Orange Pekoe
  Medium-sized broken leaves. Popular for its strong yet balanced character, making it perfect for daily tea drinkers.

• BOP-SP – Broken Orange Pekoe Special
  A higher grade of BOP with more even leaf particles. Offers a richer and smoother taste.

• BOPF – Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings
  Smaller particles than BOP. Brews faster, with a bold and brisk cup — often used in tea bags.

Fannings – Smaller but Stronger

• PF – Pekoe Fannings
  Tiny leaf particles that produce a brisk, full-bodied infusion.

• PF 2 / PF 3
  Sub-grades of PF that vary in fineness. PF 2 is finer, while PF 3 is slightly coarser.

Dust Grades – The Smallest, Boldest Brew

• Dust (Dust 1, 2, 3)
  The finest tea particles, often used in commercial tea bags. Brews extremely quickly and delivers a dark, strong, and bold cup.

  • Dust 1 = Finest and strongest.

  • Dust 2 & Dust 3 = Progressively coarser, but still very robust.

Quick Guide: Leaf Size Hierarchy

Whole Leaf → Broken → Fannings → Dust
(OP, PS) → (BOP, BOP-SP, BOPF) → (PF, PF2, PF3) → (Dust 1, 2, 3)

Why Tea Grades Matter

Understanding tea grades allows you to choose your tea based on taste preferences, strength, and brewing style:

• Love a light and elegant cup? Choose whole leaf grades like OP or PS.

• Prefer a brisk, strong tea? Try broken leaf grades like BOP or BOPF.

• Need a quick, bold brew? Fannings or Dust will give you that instant intensity.

At Joseph’s Tea, we offer a wide variety of teas across these grades so you can discover your perfect cup. Next time you sip, you’ll know exactly what went into that infusion!

 Explore our full tea collection at Joseph’s Tea and taste the difference in every grade.