Abbreviations such as OP, BOP, FOP, TGFOP, and FTGFOP appear alongside the names of some teas. These are commercial grading symbols commonly used for black tea from India, Sri Lanka, and several other tea-producing regions.

These symbols do not directly describe the flavour of the tea, nor are they sufficient on their own to determine its final quality. However, they help explain the shape and size of the leaf, its degree of breakage, and the presence of tips or buds after processing and sorting.

The interpretation of these symbols varies according to the country of origin and the type of tea. The grading system used in India and Sri Lanka is not a universal system for every tea in the world. China, Japan, and Taiwan, for example, often rely on other criteria such as the producing region, harvest season, plucking standard, leaf shape, and processing method.

Whole-Leaf Tea Grades

OP “Orange Pekoe”

A whole-leaf grade of black tea. The word “Orange” does not indicate an orange flavour or orange colour; it is part of a historical commercial term used in tea grading. OP leaves are generally relatively long and more intact than broken-leaf grades.

OPA “Orange Pekoe A”

A whole-leaf grade that is larger or broader than OP in some sorting systems and may be less tightly rolled. This classification is commonly used for Ceylon tea.

OP1 “Orange Pekoe One”

A long, slender, whole-leaf grade that is more distinctly rolled than OP in many Ceylon grading systems. The number “1” indicates a finer selection or sorting within the system, but it does not represent a single universal standard across all countries.

FOP “Flowery Orange Pekoe”

A whole-leaf grade that usually contains young leaves and may include visible tips or buds. The word “Flowery” does not mean that flowers have been added to the tea; it is a commercial description of the leaf’s appearance and delicacy.

GFOP “Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”

A whole-leaf grade similar to FOP but with a more noticeable presence of golden tips. The word “Golden” refers to the appearance of certain buds or tips, not to an added flavour.

TGFOP “Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”

A whole-leaf grade containing a higher proportion of golden tips or buds than GFOP. It is common in some orthodox black teas, particularly those from Assam and Darjeeling.

FTGFOP “Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”

A high grade within the whole-leaf category, generally indicating finer sorting, a better appearance, and a noticeable proportion of golden tips. Nevertheless, the grade alone is not sufficient to determine the final flavour.

FTGFOP1 “Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe 1”

A higher grade or first selection within certain sorting systems, commonly used for Darjeeling and Assam teas. The number “1” does not mean that all teas carrying this symbol are equal in quality; the origin, season, processing, and tasting result must also be considered.

SFTGFOP “Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”

A special grade within the whole-leaf grades containing golden tips. The letter “S” most often refers to “Special”, and some producers use it to indicate a higher selection, although its precise meaning may vary according to the source.

Broken-Leaf Tea Grades

Broken

This means that the tea leaves have been broken into pieces smaller than whole leaves. Broken leaves generally release their colour and flavour more quickly than whole leaves.

BP “Broken Pekoe”

A broken-leaf tea grade that is generally larger than Fannings and Dust and infuses more quickly than whole-leaf grades.

BOP “Broken Orange Pekoe”

A common and widely recognised broken-leaf grade used extensively in Sri Lanka, India, and other tea-producing regions. It produces a faster infusion and a more pronounced colour than whole-leaf tea.

BOP1 “Broken Orange Pekoe One”

A broken grade that is relatively larger or longer than BOP in some classifications and is commonly found in Ceylon tea.

GBOP “Golden Broken Orange Pekoe”

A broken-leaf grade containing some golden tips. The word “Golden” refers to the appearance of the tips rather than an added flavour.

FBOP “Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe”

A broken-leaf grade containing a proportion of young leaves or tips. In some sorting systems, it has a more refined and detailed appearance than standard BOP.

GFBOP “Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe”

A broken-leaf grade with more noticeable golden tips than FBOP, used for certain types of orthodox black tea.

TGBOP “Tippy Golden Broken Orange Pekoe”

A broken-leaf grade containing a higher proportion of golden tips than GBOP. The word “Tippy” refers to the visible tips or buds.

BPS “Broken Pekoe Souchong”

A grade used in certain tea-classification systems, particularly among CTC grades in India. In this case, the letter “S” does not mean “Special”; it forms part of the term “Souchong”.

CTC Grades

CTC

An abbreviation for “Cut, Tear, Curl” or “Crush, Tear, Curl”. It is a mechanical production method in which the leaves are cut or crushed, torn, and rolled into small granules. CTC tea is known for its fast infusion and strong colour and is widely used for robust black tea and tea bags.

CTC BOP

A CTC tea grade with a particle size close to Broken Orange Pekoe. It is not a whole-leaf grade, but consists of small, evenly sized granules or pieces produced through the CTC method.

PF / OF / PD / Dust

Smaller CTC tea grades that vary according to particle size and the results of sorting. In general, the smaller the particles, the faster the infusion.

General Small-Leaf Grades

Fannings

Small pieces of tea leaf that are smaller than BOP. They are commonly used in tea bags because they infuse quickly.

Dust

The finest tea particles produced during sorting or processing. They are commonly used in commercial tea bags because they infuse quickly and produce a strong colour, but they are generally unsuitable for presenting specialty tea as loose leaves.

Leaf-Related Terms

Tippy / Tip

These terms refer to the small visible tips or buds in the tea. Depending on the tea type and processing method, they may appear golden, silver, or pale in colour. Their presence can be an important visual indicator, but it does not guarantee flavour quality on its own.

Golden Tips

Golden-coloured tips found in certain black teas, particularly those from Assam, Yunnan, and Darjeeling. They are often associated with buds or young leaves after oxidation and drying.

Silver Tips

Silver-coloured tips or buds found in certain teas, especially white tea and some special grades. The silver colour is generally associated with the natural white down covering young buds.

Tea-grade abbreviations do not indicate an added flavour or provide a final judgement of quality. They generally refer to the size and shape of the leaf, its degree of breakage, and the presence of tips or buds after processing and sorting. These symbols are commonly used for black tea from India and Sri Lanka, while regions such as China, Japan, and Taiwan rely on different descriptive systems connected to origin, harvest season, plucking standard, and processing method.