The Truth About Tea Grades: Are You Drinking "Dust"?

When you consider that tea is the second most consumed beverage in the entire world (beaten only by water!), we think it is pretty important to know exactly what is going into your mug.

There are so many different things to consider when selecting a high-quality tea. But if you have only ever bought standard supermarket teabags, you might be surprised to learn how the global tea industry actually categorises and values its leaves.

It is time to pull back the curtain on tea grading.

The Anatomy of the Perfect Cup

Did you know that there are seven different grades of black tea? This categorisation largely depends upon the size and age of the tea leaf when it is plucked from the plant.

When it comes to crafting a premium brew, you really only want to make sure your tea is made from the very top two leaves and the bud of the plant. These young, delicate leaves are known in the industry as Flowery Orange Pekoe or Orange Pekoe.

[Insert your lovely little illustration of the tea plant grading system here]

Grading by Size: From Whole Leaves to "Sweepings"

In addition to where the leaf sits on the plant, tea is also strictly graded based on the size of the harvested pieces. This is where things get interesting (and a little bit shocking for standard teabag drinkers).

Here is how the sizing breakdown works:

• Orange Pekoe: Beautiful, intact, whole leaves. This provides a complex, smooth, and superior flavour profile.

• Broken Orange Pekoe: Intentionally broken leaves that infuse a little faster while still retaining great quality.

• Fannings: Heavily broken leaves, roughly the size of a pinhead.

• Dust: We are sorry to say it, but this is probably what you are getting in most commercial teabags. It is the lowest grade available and is sometimes literally referred to as "sweepings"—evoking lovely imagery of it being swept right off the factory floor!

Hand-Plucked vs. Machine Harvested

Then, there is the consideration of how the tea is gathered. Was it carefully plucked by hand to preserve the delicate whole leaves (like our Blighty Brew Organic Premium Black)? Or was it efficiently harvested by machine (like our still-excellent, everyday Blighty Brew Orange Pekoe Black)?

With so many variables—age, size, and harvesting method—navigating the world of tea can feel overwhelming.

But rest assured, we have already done the hard work for you. We have meticulously sourced our leaves to ensure that our Blighty Brew Organic Whole Leaf and Bud Teas are absolutely vertiginous in both grade and performance. No sweepings, no dust—just a properly authentic, premium cup of tea.