Ceylon tea is one of the most loved beverages in the world. With a history going back to the British colonial era, Ceylon tea is a household name in many countries. Ceylon tea in Sri Lanka is graded into different categories based on the size and shape of the tea leaf.
Two main categories
There are two main categories of Ceylon tea: whole leaf grade and broken leaf grade. The whole leaf grade has been there since the inception of the tea industry in the country; the Orange Pekoe is the grade for whole leaves. And broken leaves grade consists of some of the best types of Ceylon tea. Tea exporters like Anverally & Sons are required to grade their teas before exporting.
Fannings
These are rejects from the manufacturing process. Even though they are rejects, fannings produce some of the best teas in the world. The Orange Pekoe is, for example, made of fannings.
Flowery
The flowery tea grade consists of bigger leaves, and tips can hardly be seen. Flowery grades carry high prices and are quite expensive to manufacture.
The whole leaf grades
There are several whole leaf grades. Orange Pekoe, Pekoe, Orange Pekoe A, and Orange Pekoe 1 are the four categories of whole-leaf tea.
Broken tea leaf grades
Several grades fall into the category of broken tea leaves. Broken Orange Pekoe, Flower Broken Orange Pekoe, Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings, Broken Orange Pekoe 1, Flowery Broken Pekoe Fannings, and Flower Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings 1 are among the broken tea leaf grades.
