Alright, let’s talk about this tea stuff, grades of black tea, you know? It ain’t as simple as just “tea,” no sir. There’s all sorts of different kinds, and they got their own fancy names and all.

What’s This “Tea Grading” Anyway?

Well, from what I gather, tea grading is like sorting them leaves, you see? They look at how big they are, what shape they got, and how good they look. Mostly, they do this with black teas, the kind I like to drink strong in the mornin’. This whole grading thing, it helps folks know what kind of tea they’re gettin’, and if it’s the good stuff or just some scraps.

So, they got these different grades, and each one is supposed to taste a little different. Some are strong, some are kinda weak, some are in between. It all depends on them leaves, how they’re cut and all.

The Main Types of Black Tea Grades

Now, there’s a bunch of these grades, but they mostly fall into four big groups, they call ’em categories. It’s all got to do with when they pick them leaves, how big they are, and how they go about makin’ the tea.

• Orange Pekoe (OP): This one, they say it’s got the whole leaves, big ones, no little bits or nothin’. Just big, whole leaves. Kinda like the whole vegetables I used to pick from the garden, not them chopped-up ones from the store.
• Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP): Now, this is like the OP, but the leaves are broken up, smaller pieces. Maybe it’s like when you drop a plate and it breaks, you still got the plate, but it’s in pieces now. They say it makes the tea brew faster, stronger, maybe.
• Fannings: These are even smaller bits, like crumbs almost. They say it’s what’s left over after they get the bigger leaves. It’s cheaper, they say, and it makes a strong cup, good for a quick brew. Like when you sweep up the crumbs after dinner, you still get somethin’, but it ain’t the same as a whole loaf of bread.
• Dustings: And then there’s the dust, the real small stuff. Like powder almost. They say it’s the cheapest, and it brews real fast, real strong. Good for tea bags, they say. I guess it’s like the flour you use for bakin’, it’s so fine, you can’t even see the little pieces no more.

But it ain’t just those four, oh no. They got all sorts of fancy names they add on, like “flowery” or “tippy” or “golden.” I don’t know what all that means, sounds like somethin’ them city folks made up to charge more money, if you ask me. But they say it means the tea has little buds or golden tips, and that makes it taste better, I guess.

Some More Fancy Names You Might Hear

They got even more names, you know? Like BOP1, that’s “Broken Orange Pekoe One.” They say it’s small, wiry pieces, and it makes a good, strong cup. And then there’s FBOP1, “Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe One,” with little tips, they say. Sounds fancy, don’t it? But it’s all just tea in the end, ain’t it?

So, What Does It All Mean?

Well, I reckon it means some tea is better than others, according to them experts. The bigger the leaves, the fancier the name, the more they gonna charge you, that’s for sure. But does it really matter? I don’t know. I like my tea strong and hot, and I don’t care too much if the leaves are big or small, or if they got some fancy name. As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters to me.

But if you’re one of them folks who likes to know all the details, well, now you know a little somethin’ about these tea grades. You can go around talkin’ about OP and BOP and all that, and maybe impress your friends. Or maybe they’ll just think you’re crazy, talkin’ about tea leaves all day.

The Important Thing?

The important thing is to find a tea you like, no matter what they call it. Don’t let them fancy names fool you. Just try different kinds, and see what tastes good to you. That’s what I always say. And don’t forget to brew it strong, that’s the only way to drink tea, if you ask me.

And another thing, don’t go spendin’ a fortune on tea, unless you got money to burn. That dust tea, it ain’t so bad. It makes a good, strong cup, and it don’t cost an arm and a leg. Save your money for somethin’ important, like a good pair of shoes or a warm blanket. That’s what I say.

So there you have it, a little somethin’ about grades of black tea. Hope it made some sense to you. Now go on and make yourself a cup, and enjoy it. And don’t worry too much about all them fancy names. Just drink your tea and be happy.

Grades of black tea, in the end, just tell you a bit about the leaf size and how it might taste. But your own taste buds, those are the real experts, you see? You listen to them, and you’ll be just fine. Now, where’s my kettle?