Well hey there, let’s gab a bit about this “what is pekoe black tea” thing, alright? Don’t you go gettin’ all fancy on me now, ’cause I’m gonna break it down real simple-like.

What in the world is this Pekoe Black Tea, anyway?

So, you hear folks talkin’ ’bout “Pekoe” tea, right? Makes it sound all highfalutin’. But it ain’t nothin’ too complicated, I tell ya. It’s just a way they sort out them black tea leaves. You know, like pickin’ out the good ‘uns from the not-so-good ‘uns.

See, they got these different sizes and shapes of leaves, and they give ’em all sorts of names. Pekoe, well, that’s one of them names. It mostly means the leaves are kinda medium-sized, not too big, not too small. And they got this kinda… well, they call it a “pekoe” look. Means they’re kinda fine, ya know? Not all rough and scraggly.

• Big leaves? They got other names for them.
• Little bitty leaves and dust? Those too.
• Pekoe? That’s the middle-of-the-road, good stuff, most times.

Now, some folks get all mixed up and think Pekoe means it’s got orange in it or somethin’. Heck no! “Orange Pekoe” is just another fancy name they use. It’s a way of sayin’ the tea is pretty good quality, made with whole leaves and not all busted up. It don’t mean it tastes like no oranges, though! That’d be silly, wouldn’t it?

How They Make This Black Tea

Black tea, see, it ain’t like them green teas. They take them leaves and let ‘em sit out for a spell, then they roll ‘em up and let ‘em sit some more. That’s what they call “oxidizin’”. Makes ‘em turn dark and gives ‘em that strong taste. Then they dry ‘em out and you got your black tea. Pekoe black tea goes through the same thing, just starts with them particular leaves I was talkin’ about.

Is Pekoe Black Tea Good for Ya?

Well, some folks say it is. They say it can help your heart and stuff. You know, keep your blood pressure and all that in check. But don’t go drinkin’ a whole gallon of it ever day, ya hear? Too much of anything ain’t good for ya. This tea got that… whatchamacallit… caffeen in it. Too much of that and you’ll be jittery as a cat on a hot tin roof, and your heart might start thumpin’ funny. So, just drink it regular-like, a cup or two a day, and you’ll be just fine.

Pekoe Black Tea Ain’t Just for Black Tea?

Now, here’s somethin’ kinda interestin’. You mostly hear about Pekoe with black tea, but they use that word for other teas too. Green tea, white tea, even that oolong stuff. When they say Pekoe for them, they’re usually talkin’ ‘bout the young little leaves, the real tender ones. See? It ain’t just one thing. It all depends on what kind of tea you’re talkin’ about.

So, to sum it up…

Pekoe black tea is just a way of talkin’ about black tea made with certain sized leaves, the ones they call “pekoe.” It’s usually pretty good quality stuff, but it don’t mean nothin’ fancy like it’s got oranges in it or somethin’. It’s just good ol’ black tea, and if you don’t drink too much of it, it might even do ya some good. And that’s all there is to it, plain and simple.

Tags: [Pekoe Black Tea, Black Tea, Tea Grading, Tea Leaves, Tea Benefits, Orange Pekoe, Tea Types]