BOP tea
Broken Orange Pekoe
Broken Orange Pekoe is a robust grade with colour, strength and malty depth. It can form the backbone of a strong everyday blend or institutional tea programme.
Robust Cup
BOPSM tea
Broken Orange Pekoe Small Mixed
Broken Orange Pekoe Small Mixed offers a lively infusion with bright character, useful body and a brisk finish. It suits blends that need energy and clarity without losing strength.
Bright & Lively
BP tea
Broken Pekoe
Broken Pekoe gives a rounded, dependable cup. Its balanced body makes it a practical choice for blenders seeking consistency across regular production.
Premium Grade
PF tea
Pekoe Fannings
Pekoe Fannings infuse quickly and deliver brisk liquor and useful colour. PF is commonly selected for tea bags and fast-brewing blends.
Commercial Grade
PD / PF Dust tea
Pekoe Dust · also PF Dust
Pekoe Dust, also traded as PF Dust, sits between PF and Dust. It brews fast to a strong, deep-coloured cup and suits tea bags, vending and high-volume milk tea.
Fast Brewing
Dust tea
Fine CTC particles
Dust consists of fine CTC particles that brew rapidly with strong colour and intensity, suited to high-volume service, tea bags and strong milk-tea blends.
High Volume
Compare Assam CTC tea grades
| GradeCode and full name | Particle sizeGranule size after sorting | Brewing speedHow fast it infuses | In the cupLiquor, body and colour | Best forTypical uses and buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOPBroken Orange Pekoe | Largest | Slowest | Full body, deep colour, malty | Loose-leaf chai, hotels and long-brewed milk tea |
| BOPSMBroken Orange Pekoe Small Mixed | Large | Steady | Bright, brisk, lively | Premium blends and packet tea |
| BPBroken Pekoe | Medium | Medium | Strong, rounded, consistent | Everyday household packs and institutional blends |
| PFPekoe Fannings | Small | Fast | Brisk with quick colour | Tea bags and fast-brewing blends |
| PD / PF DustPekoe Dust | Fine | Very fast | Strong and dark | Tea bags, vending and high-volume milk tea |
| DustCTC Dust | Finest | Fastest | Maximum colour and strength | Tea stalls, canteens and strong milk tea |
Common questions about CTC tea grades
What is Assam CTC tea?
Assam CTC tea is black tea from the Assam tea belt made by the Crush, Tear, Curl method. The leaf is cut into small granules that brew quickly into a strong, malty, deep-coloured cup, which is why it is the standard tea for Indian chai and milk tea.
Which CTC tea grade is best for chai and milk tea?
For a strong cup of chai, buyers usually choose BOP or BP for long-brewed tea, and PD or Dust where the tea must brew in seconds, as at tea stalls and canteens. Many blenders mix a leaf grade with a dust grade to balance body and colour.
What is the difference between BOP and BOPSM?
Both are broken orange pekoe grades. BOP has the largest particles and gives the fullest body. BOPSM (small mixed) is slightly smaller and brews a brighter, brisker liquor.
What is the difference between PF, PD and Dust?
They are the three smallest CTC grades. PF (pekoe fannings) is the largest of the three and is widely used in tea bags. PD (pekoe dust, also called PF Dust) is finer and brews faster. Dust is the finest and gives the most colour and strength in the shortest time.
Request a grade or sample
Tell us your preferred grade, quantity and intended use. Asom Tea Industry can discuss availability for requirements starting at 50 kg.