Tea is offered as leaf tea and small-leaf tea. Leaf teas, which contain whole tea leaves, play only a minor role with 1-2%. By far the largest share is made up of small-leaf tea – so-called broken tea. The infusion is more intense than with leaf teas.
The smallest leaf grades, fannings and dust, are used for infusion bags. They produce a strong, aromatic infusion. Leaf grades only provide information about the size of the tea leaves, not their quality. Basically, the quality of tea bags does not differ from the quality of loose tea.
For infusion bags, finer leaf grades, such as fannings and dust, are used because the finer siftings are much more concentrated, allowing the tea to develop its full flavor in the shortest possible time. They are therefore more suitable for the “quick” cup of tea. Currently, about 80% of tea is used in the form of infusion bags.
Tippy or Orange Pekoe?
In the case of leaf and broken teas, other grades are distinguished. Here it depends on which parts of the tea plant are processed.
- Flowery Orange Pekoe – in this sorting young, blossoming shoots and shoot tips are used.
- Orange Pekoe – this second smallest tea assortment consists of the finest parts of the young shoots.
- Pekoe – The word refers to the still tender, young leaves of the tea plant and means “white down” (from Chinese).
- Tip, Tippy – This addition refers to the light leaf tips of young, tender tea leaves that do not turn so dark when infused.
Darjeeling, Assam or Ceylon?
The quality of different types of tea is predominantly determined by the area of cultivation, harvest time and climate. The most famous tea growing areas are Darjeeling, Assam and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) with the corresponding tea varieties. As a rule, tea is harvested in three harvest seasons: the spring harvest (first flush), the summer harvest (second flush) and the autumn harvest (autumnals).
In general, teas from higher altitude areas (e.g. Darjeeling) tend to be of finer quality because the leaves grow more slowly, allowing them to develop a more fragrant flavor. Teas from lower lying areas are usually stronger and darker in infusion, but can also be of very high quality, e.g. best varieties come from Assam.
In Germany, most teas are sold as blends of different teas and harvests. This allows for consistent quality with the usual taste throughout the year.
