What does “orange pekoe” mean?
Orange Pekoe doesn’t refer to an orange-flavored tea, or even a tea that brews up an orange-y copper color. Instead, Orange Pekoe refers to a particular grade of black tea. Orange Pekoe and similar phrases are generally used by westerners in order to describe black teas from India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of Asia. Chinese black teas, however, are not typically graded according to this system.
The origin of the phrase “Orange Pekoe” is unclear. The term may be a transliteration of a Chinese phrase referring to the downy tips of the buds of tea plants. The name may also have had its origins in the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau in association with the Dutch East India Company, who helped popularize tea throughout Europe.
Other tea grades
Orange Pekoe represents the lowest grade of loose leaf black tea. That said, being graded as Orange Pekoe is still an indicator of quality, and indicates that the tea is composed of whole loose leaves, rather than the dust and fragments that are left over after higher grade teas have been processed. Represented by the letters OP, Orange Pekoe can also be understood as an umbrella term that includes other higher grades of tea. These tea grades for whole leaf teas can include:
• OP: Orange Pekoe
• FOP: Flowery Orange Pekoe
• GFOP: Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
• TGFOP: Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
• FTGFOP: Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
There is also a related grading system for broken leaf teas that are still of high quality:
• BP: Broken Pekoe
• FP: Flowery Pekoe
• FBOP: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
• GBOP: Golden Broken Orange Pekoe
• GFBOP: Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
• TGFBOP: Tippy Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
In addition to these grades of whole and broken leaf tea, tea dust and fanning also have different grades depending on their size and country of origin. Fannings and dust are primarily used in commercially produced teabags, and are of lower quality with a much less nuanced flavor than loose leaf tea.
So what do all of these letters mean? In general, Orange Pekoe or OP denotes that the tea is loose leaf and of medium to high quality. When a B is added, it indicates that the leaves are broken, resulting in a stronger cup of tea. An F stands for flowery, which signifies that the tea is of higher quality and includes the buds of the tea plant. When it occurs at the beginning of a tea grade, F can sometimes also stand for finest, indicating that the tea is of extremely high quality. G stands for golden, and indicates that the tea has a high ratio of buds, which are often golden in appearance. T stands for tippy, and is another indicator that the tea is composed of the finest tips and buds of the tea plant.
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Benefits of orange pekoe tea
Like other black teas, tea graded as Orange Pekoe is full of health benefits. Black tea contains antioxidants, which can help to reduce free radicals in the body, promote cellular health, and ward off degenerative diseases like cancer. Teas graded as Orange Pekoe contain a moderate amount of caffeine, as well as a compound known as l-theanine, which can help to reduce anxiety and relieve stress. Black tea also has anti-inflammatory, cold-fighting, and digestive properties.
Our “orange pekoe” teas
Because Orange Pekoe refers to a grade of tea and not a specific type of tea, we don’t carry any teas with that specific name. However, many of our Indian black teas are classified as Orange Pekoe grade or higher, including Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Nilgiri, and Star of India.
Assam Black Tea
Our Assam is a hearty and full-bodied Indian black tea, perfect for enjoying on its own, or with milk and honey. These leaves are graded as FBOP (Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe). Assam is often used in breakfast blends like Irish Breakfast, and has a robust flavor profile and a moderate amount of caffeine.
Daily Darjeeling Black Tea
Our Daily Darjeeling is a second flush black tea from the Darjeeling region of India. The leaves are graded as FTGFOP1 (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe One). Grown in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, teas from Darjeeling are sometimes nicknamed “the champagne of teas” for their bright taste and superior quality. Darjeeling teas tend to be somewhat lighter than other Indian black teas, and have a moderate amount of caffeine.
First Flush Darjeeling Black Tea
Our Organic Avongrove First Flush Darjeeling (FTGFOP1) is sourced from the Avongrove tea garden in Rangbhang Valley, Darjeeling. Located within view of the river Balasun, these tea plants are grown at high elevation ranging from 2,200 to 5,700 feet. Fresh, floral, and slightly astringent, this tea has all the wonderful qualities of a great first flush.
Ceylon Black Tea
Our Ceylon tea comes from Sri Lanka, which used to be called Ceylon when under British rule. Teas from Sri Lanka are often graded using the same system as Indian black teas. This tea is rich and aromatic, and a good example of an Orange Pekoe tea with a moderate amount of caffeine and a hint of spice.
Nilgiri Black Tea
Our Nilgiri is a rich, full-bodied tea from the region of Nilgiri in southwest India. While tea-growing regions like Assam and Darjeeling may be better known for their famous Indian black teas, Niligiri teas are growing in popularity. This robust tea has a moderate amount of caffeine, and can be enjoyed on its own or with milk and honey.
Star of India Black Tea
If you’re a fan of Indian black teas but looking for something unique, our Star of India might be just the tea for you! Star of India is a blend of Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri teas, and is a lovely balanced Indian black tea.
Because this system is primarily used to classify Indian and Sri Lankan black teas, Orange Pekoe teas typically have a robust flavor, a full body, and a moderate amount of caffeine. Whether you’ve had an Orange Pekoe tea before, or are simply interested in exploring different grades of tea, we have a wealth of options to choose from!
FAQs
Does orange pekoe have orange in it?
Despite the name, orange pekoe tea doesn’t actually have any orange in it. The term is used to refer to certain unflavored black teas grown in India.
Does pekoe tea have caffeine?
Yes, orange pekoe grade tea contains caffeine. While the caffeine content present in tea is influenced by several factors, Indian black teas tend to contain high levels of caffeine, about half that of a cup of coffee.
How long should you steep orange pekoe black tea?
We generally recommend a steep time of about three to five minutes for orange pekoe grade black teas.
