Orange Pekoe tea may sound like a delightful tea blended with oranges but that is not the case. Despite its popularity, the name can cause confusion. Contrary to popular belief, Orange Pekoe does not refer to the flavour of the tea, but rather to a specific grade of tea leaf.
Most tea drinkers may have started their tea journey with a tea labeled as Orange Pekoe. Tetley, Red Rose and Lipton are a few popular brands I grew up with that sold Orange Pekoe tea which were a standard tea option in restaurants, hotels and cafes, too.
After my younger self had many, many cups of this tea, I started to wonder what was behind the name since it clearly didn’t relate to my tasting notes.
So if it is not a flavoured black tea, what exactly is orange pekoe tea?
Key Takeaways
- Orange Pekoe tea does not contain any oranges. The name is not due to the flavour or the colour.
- Orange Pekoe (OP) refers to a grade of tea, information about the leaf size and appearance.
- Many black teas may not be named/labeled “orange pekoe” but can be classified as OP grade (ie. Assam, Darjeeling or Ceylon, etc.)
Understanding Orange Pekoe Tea
Orange Pekoe is a term used to describe a type of black tea that is widely consumed around the world. Black tea is a type of tea that is more oxidized than green, white, and oolong teas.
It is often enjoyed on its own, but can also be used as a base for tea blends.
The term “Orange Pekoe” refers to the grading of the tea leaves based on their size and quality, rather than the flavour or type of tea.
This grading system is used for black teas from Sri Lanka, India and countries other than China. It is not generally used for Chinese black teas.
The grading system ranges from the highest quality, which is whole leaf tea, to the lowest quality, which is fannings or dust (often found in commercial tea bags).
Tea Grades
The following tea grades are for whole, unbroken leaves:
- 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
- SFTGFOP: Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
The following are tea grades for broken (B) leaves:
- BOP: Broken Orange Pekoe
- FBOP: Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
- GBOP: Golden Broken Orange Pekoe
- GFBOP: Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
- TGFBOP: Tippy Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe
How to Make Orange Pekoe Tea
Learn how to make a delicious cup in just a few minutes using loose leaf or tea bags.
Step 1: Boil 1 cup of water. Since this is a black tea, freshly boiled water is the ideal temperature for steeping.
Step 2: Pour the freshly boiled water in a mug with 1 Orange Pekoe (OP) tea bag or 1 tablespoon of OP loose leaf tea. Cover the mug and steep for 3-5 minutes. Don’t steep the tea for too long or it will be bitter!
Step 3: Remove or strain the tea leaves or tea bag from the mug. If desired, add sweetener and milk or enjoy on its own.