Does Orange Pekoe Taste Of Orange?

We are sometimes asked if our Orange Pekoe teas taste of orange?  I suppose it’s not such a daft question, but it has nothing to do with the tea’s flavour.

Orange Pekoe (OP) is used mostly for describing Ceylon Teas (but also Indian and occasionally Malaysian) and is the term used for the classification of black teas, with regard to the grading and quality of the dried black leaves.

The history of the word ‘pekoe’ is a little uncertain, but may come from the word ‘Amoy’ a Chinese tea meaning white down like hair, which describes the ‘down like’ white hairs on the young tea leaves.  Fortunately all teas in Sri Lanka are hand picked so not to damage these delicate leaves as they are harvested.

To be classed as ‘pekoe’ the plucked tea must include the new flush: a leaf bud plucked with the next two smallest and youngest leaves.  Any leaves lower than this would be of an inferior quality.

So where does the word ‘Orange’ come from?

Again, there doesn’t seem to be an accurate definition, but the following are plausible.

The Dutch East India Company first brought tea to Europe in 1610 and the finest teas were bought by the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange.  This fine Pekoe tea was marketed to the Dutch people as Orange Pekoe to suggest perhaps, a Royal Warrant.

William I became King of the Netherland in 1815.   At this time his son William II became known as the Prince of Orange.  He was the head of the Dutch Royal Family from 1840 – 1849.  William III was the second son of William II.  He married Mary Stuart, the daughter of King Charles I of Great Britain.  William III was also known as the Prince of Orange, and whilst tea had already reached the shores of Britain, I should imagine he liked to promote this delicious high quality Pekoe tea to his Courts as Orange Pekoe.

Orange may also have been used to describe the copper like colour of the leaves after the oxidation process or the delicious orange colour of the tea once infused and ready to enjoy.

Ceylon Tea Grading

1. Tippy
2. Orange Pekoe – OP
3. Broken Orange Pekoe BOP
4. Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe F BOP
5. BOP Fannings
6. Pekoe Dust
7. Dust 1

We use this prized Orange Pekoe (OP) for our Earl Grey, Afternoon Ceylon and Ebony Chai.  Our English Breakfast is produced with Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe (F BOP) the slightly smaller broken leaves gives it a brisk taste and fuller flavour.