Black Teas - Caftea'


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Caftea' :: Teas :: Black Teas

Black Teas

Black Teas all come from the Camellia Senensis bush. After the leaves have been oxidized and turn black, they are then processed in various ways to produce different types of black teas. Compared to the high caffeine content of coffee, black teas have a somewhat lower caffeine level.

Black tea leaves from India are graded according to various criteria; the most important factor is the size of the leaf, and the teas are divided into "broken grades" and "leaf grades". The "broken grades" consist of smaller leaves and broken leaf particles, and are typically used in tea bags. Only about 20 percent of teas produced are of "leaf grades" which are the larger tea leaves. These rarer teas tend to produce liquors that are smoother and lighter though less strong than the broken grades.

Black Tea Grades:

OP-Orange Pekoe
The term often used to describe the largest leaf grade for teas from Sri Lanka and occasionally from the south of India.

FOP-Flowery Orange Pekoe
The term used throughout the rest of India to describe the largest tea leaves.

GFOP-Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
Flowery Orange Pekoe with golden tips which are the delicate yellow tips of the bud's leaves.

TGFOP-Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
Flowery Orange Pekoe with a larger proportion of golden tips than Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe.

FTGFOP-Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe
Very high quality Flowery Orange Pekoe.

SFTGFOP-Supreme Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange
Very high quality Flowery Orange Pekoe with lots of golden tips.

BOP-Broken Orange Pekoe
Broken size tea leaves.

BOPF-Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings
Tea fibers that are smaller than Broken Orange Pekoe leaves and are commonly found in tea bags.