# Help me find the best orange pekoe tea **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 29, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400 "2012-02-29T22:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/1 "2012-02-29T22:52:19Z")
Also, what exactly is ‘orange tea?’ I know pekoe is the cut used on the tea leaves, but I haven’t been able to find ‘orange’ as a class of tea like ‘green’, ‘black’, etc. Right now I drink Swee-Touch-Nee brand tea but in the past I’d bought Twinnings orange pekoe. I like it so much I’d like to explore other varieties. Thanks to all who respond. 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/2 "2012-03-01T00:39:16Z")
Orange pekoe is just bog standard black tea. And the best Orange pekoe is Red Rose. Every other brand is trying to sell blackish liquid. ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/3 "2012-03-01T03:10:09Z")
Here’s a well-regarded specialty tea concern’s [highest-rated](https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?from=catalog.asp&itemID=TC05&begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=Other&sortMethod=0&categoryID=0) of 3 orange pekoes. Upton’s is a good place for trying a lot of $1 samples of all kinds of cool teas. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/4 "2012-03-01T03:55:21Z")
Moved from MPSIMS to Cafe Society. twicks, who lives on Twinings Earl Grey. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/5 "2012-03-01T04:06:26Z")
“Orange Pekoe” is a general black tea grade (based on leaf size), with many sub grades (“Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”, anyone?) - and of course has nothing to do with oranges - you might start [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe). ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/6 "2012-03-01T04:18:14Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > Orange pekoe is just bog standard black tea. And the best Orange pekoe is Red Rose. Every other brand is trying to sell blackish liquid. I have to admit to having a relatively unrefined palate, so I can’t really swear to my alleged preferences, but I do like Red Rose. I will have to try a side by side comparison at some point. > [@Parenchyma](#): > > Here’s a well-regarded specialty tea concern’s [highest-rated](https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?from=catalog.asp&itemID=TC05&begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=Other&sortMethod=0&categoryID=0) of 3 orange pekoes. > > Upton’s is a good place for trying a lot of $1 samples of all kinds of cool teas. Excellent advice thank you. > [@twickster](#): > > Moved from MPSIMS to Cafe Society. My apologies. I tend to hang out on GQ. Even now this board is too overwhelming and as much as I might like to, I can’t spend multiple hours per day here. Anyway, the point was . . . I keep forgetting about CS. If I go there I won’t have time to read The Enquirer. :rolleyes: 😃 twicks, who lives on Twinings Earl Grey. > [@zombywoof](#): > > “Orange Pekoe” is a general black tea grade, with many sub grades (“Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”, anyone?) - and of course has nothing to do with oranges - you might start [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe). You know, I’ve actually been to that wiki page. I remembered as soon as I saw it. Not sure why I forgot in the first place though. I think it just didn’t make much sense to me. It still doesn’t really. I mean, I get what they’re saying, it just seems very amorphous. > [@](#): > > **Orange pekoe** (OP), also spelled “ **pecco** ” (pronounced [/pɛk oʊ/](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English) or English pronunciation: [/piː koʊ/](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English)) is a term used in the Western [tea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea) trade to describe a particular genre of [black teas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tea) (Orange pekoe grading).[[1]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe#cite_note-StashOP-0)[[2]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe#cite_note-Swan-1) Despite a purported Chinese origin, these grading terms are typically used for teas from Sri Lanka, India and countries other than China; they are not generally known within Chinese-speaking countries. The grading system is based upon the size of processed and dried black tea leaves. > The tea industry uses the term _Orange Pekoe_ to describe a basic, medium-grade black tea consisting of many whole tea leaves of a specific size;[[1]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe#cite_note-StashOP-0) however, it is popular in some regions (such as [North America](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America)) to use the term as a description of any generic black tea (though it is often described to the consumer as a specific variety of black tea).[[3]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe#cite_note-PCT-2)[[4]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe#cite_note-BW-3) Within this system, the teas that receive the highest grades are obtained from new flushes. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/7 "2012-03-01T04:48:58Z")
Are you a “Good Eats” fan? - Alton talks about OP grading in his tea episode. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKdRYDspPE) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQtpjujGRFw) ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/8 "2012-03-01T05:45:51Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > “Orange Pekoe” is a general black tea grade (based on leaf size), with many sub grades (“Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe”, anyone?) - and of course has nothing to do with oranges - you might start [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_pekoe). Far Too Good For Ordinary People. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/9 "2012-03-03T03:01:38Z")
> [@Parenchyma](#): > > Here’s a well-regarded specialty tea concern’s [highest-rated](https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?from=catalog.asp&itemID=TC05&begin=0&parent=Teas%3EBlack%3ECeylon&category=Other&sortMethod=0&categoryID=0) of 3 orange pekoes. > > Upton’s is a good place for trying a lot of $1 samples of all kinds of cool teas. I took your advice and ordered 125g. Will have to break out the tea ball and see if i can find that electronic spoon scale I got from thinkgeek to measure out the 2.25g it recommends. Thanks to everyone for your responses. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Parenchyma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Parenchyma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parenchyma)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/10 "2012-03-03T05:06:04Z")
I was thinking of this thread today when I was in the Indian grocery store. Even though I ran out of my favorite [Baker Street Afternoon Blend](https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=TB75&from=searchResults.asp&searchString=baker&searchOptionMatchAll=1&searchOptionCategory=1&searchOptionItemName=1&searchOptionItemDescription=1&searchOptionDocuments=0&searchOptionLimitCategory=&searchOptionPriceRange=0&sType=new&begin=0) (Keemun/Darjeeling/Lapsang Souchong in a perfect balance) from Upton’s this morning, I have to put off a new order from them for awhile. So I tried a pound of the Brooke Bond Red Label orange pekoe for $3.79 at the Indian store. Very decent for the price. So thanks back to you for getting me thinking in that direction to tide me over. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-best-orange-pekoe-tea/614400/11 "2012-03-05T04:16:07Z")
I got my delivery today. I’m not sure how they managed that. The tin’s are adorable. For some reason though they gave me a sample of green tea. {shrug} I guess they had to pick something at random since I’ve never ordered before. Anyway. I couldn’t find the measuring spoon that can also do weights so I winged it and used half of a tea ball. It’s very tasty but I can’t say what’s actually different about it. The best I can do is say it’s much more tea-like - as silly as that sounds. When I’m more motivated, I’ll try to do a side-by-side comparison. Thanks again. 🙂