Below is our very simple guide to the most widely used grades. For those who would like to learn more about tea grades we recommend visiting the excellent Wikipedia page on the subject - find it here

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OP - Orange Pekoe, main grade, consisting of long wiry leaf without tips.

OP1 - More delicate than OP; long, wiry leaf with a light liquor.

OPA - Bolder than OP; long leaf tea which ranges from tightly wound to almost open.

OPS - Orange Pekoe Superior. Primarily from Indonesia; similar to OP.

FOP - Flowery Orange Pekoe. High-quality tea with a long leaf and few tips, considered the second grade in Assam, Dooars, and Bangladesh teas, but the first grade in China.

FOP1 - Limited to only the highest quality leaves in the FOP classification.

GFOP - Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe. Higher proportion of tip than FOP. Top grade in the Milima and Marinyn regions, but uncommon in Assam and Darjeeling.

TGFOP - Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe. The highest proportion of tip, and the main grade in Darjeeling and Assam.

TGFOP1 - Limited to only the highest quality leaves in the TGFOP classification.

FTGFOP - Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe. Highest quality grade.

FTGFOP1/STGFOP/SFTGFOP - Limited to only the highest quality leaves in the FTGFOP classification.