Orange Pekoe Tea
Ceylon Uva Black Tea
Superior quality 100% pure Ceylon Tea Natural Ingredients Free from artificial additives
Orange Pekoe (OP) is a premium whole-leaf grade of Ceylon black tea, known for one of the smoothest, lighter cups. Ours is a single-estate OP from the legendary, award-winning Pettiagalla Estate in Balangoda, Uva, Sri Lanka—gardens established in 1880, with about 329 hectares under tea at 509–1,097 metres. The leaf is larger and well twisted, with a forest-like aroma; the liquor is light golden-reddish with a delicate taste. Allow a slightly longer steep than broken grades. For a larger-leaf OP style, see Royal Indulgence.
Details
What is Orange Pekoe tea?
Orange Pekoe — OP on the grade charts — is a whole-leaf grade of black tea, not a flavour, and nothing to do with the fruit. “Pekoe” traces to the Chinese bai hao (白毫), the fine down on young tea buds; the “orange” is popularly attributed to the Dutch House of Orange, whose nobility helped turn tea into a European luxury. As a grade, OP means long, whole, well-twisted leaves.
Because the leaf is intact, OP infuses more slowly than broken grades and pours a smoother, lighter cup — the opposite of the quick, punchy brew you get from broken leaf or fannings. It is a grade for sipping, not a recipe.
Pettiagalla Estate
Pettiagalla Estate
This Orange Pekoe is a single-estate Ceylon black tea from the legendary, award-winning Pettiagalla Estate in Balangoda, Uva. The gardens date from 1880 and remain a dedicated tea plantation of about 329 hectares, at 509–1,097 metres.
- Location
- Balangoda, Uva, Sri Lanka
- Estate
- Pettiagalla
- Elevation
- 509–1,097 metres
- Grade
- OP (Orange Pekoe)
- Origin
- Single-estate Ceylon
OP is a whole-leaf grade: longer, well-twisted leaf that infuses more slowly than broken grades, giving a lighter golden-red liquor and a smooth, forest-like cup.
Taste profile and strength
Expect a light golden-red liquor with a smooth, forest-like character and a gentle, slightly smoky aroma — a sipping tea rather than a blunt morning hit. Whole OP leaf gives the cup finesse: less brute strength than a broken-grade breakfast tea, more clarity of flavour.
Want more body? Steep a little longer or add a splash of milk — the cup stays balanced either way.
Caffeine in Orange Pekoe tea
We have not published a lab assay for this lot, so treat milligram figures as a typical range, not a promise. Ceylon black tea brewed as we recommend (2 g / 200 ml, 3–5 minutes, 95 °C) usually falls around 40–70 mg of caffeine per cup — less than drip coffee and more than most green teas. A shorter steep (about 2–3 minutes) extracts less caffeine and a lighter cup.
How to Brew
2 g for 200 ml of water. Steep for 3–5 minutes at 95°C.
- Leaf — 2 g for 200 ml of water (about a teaspoon per cup).
- Water — fresh water at 95°C, just off the boil.
- Time — steep 3–5 minutes; the larger OP leaf needs a little longer than broken grades.
- Serve — drink plain to taste the lighter liquor, or add a splash of milk if you prefer.
Cup or pot
Keep the same ratio in a pot and add a teaspoon “for the pot” if you like it stronger. Whole OP leaves hold their shape, so the leaf can be steeped a second time — slightly shorter, slightly lighter.
With milk, plain, or iced
The lighter liquor takes a splash of milk without turning thin, and plain it shows the full forest-like Ceylon character. For iced tea, brew double strength and pour over ice. Always start with fresh water.
Orange Pekoe vs English Breakfast vs Earl Grey
Orange Pekoe is a whole-leaf grade, not a flavour: long, intact leaves that infuse slowly into a lighter golden-red cup.
Ceylon English Breakfast is a broken grade (FBOP) from Dimbula — smaller, tippy leaf that brews faster and stronger, closer to a traditional breakfast mug. Ceylon Earl Grey is black tea scented with bergamot — choose it when you want citrus aroma.
In short: buy OP for a smoother, slower sipping tea; buy English Breakfast for brisk morning strength; buy Earl Grey for the bergamot.
Best ways to enjoy
The afternoon is this tea’s natural slot — plain, or with a splash of milk. On hot days, brew double strength and pour over ice. The 80 g gift tin makes an easy present for anyone who takes their tea seriously, with the 240 g pack as the everyday refill.
Free shipping on qualifying orders over $85.
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange Pekoe (OP) is a Ceylon leaf grade of long, whole black tea leaves—not a flavour. It brews a smoother, lighter cup than broken grades such as BOP.
At the legendary, award-winning Pettiagalla Estate in Balangoda, Uva, Sri Lanka, at 509–1,097 metres—single-estate Ceylon black tea packed for Australia.
Use 2 g per 200 ml at 95°C for 3–5 minutes. Whole OP leaf takes slightly longer than fannings or broken leaf.
Yes. Choose 80 g loose leaf, 80 g with a gift tin, or 240 g loose leaf. Free shipping on orders over $85.
We have not published a lab assay for this lot, so treat milligram figures as a typical range, not a promise. Ceylon black tea brewed as we recommend (2 g / 200 ml, 3–5 minutes, 95 °C) usually falls around 40–70 mg of caffeine per cup — less than drip coffee and more than most green teas. A shorter steep (about 2–3 minutes) extracts less caffeine and a lighter cup.
“Pekoe” comes from the Chinese bai hao — the fine white down on young tea buds. The “orange” is popularly attributed to the Dutch House of Orange, whose nobility helped turn tea into a European luxury. The name is about royal fashion and leaf grade — not orange fruit or orange flavour.
A light golden-red liquor with a smooth, forest-like character and a gentle, slightly smoky aroma. Whole OP leaf brews a softer, more delicate cup than broken grades — finesse rather than brute strength. Steep a little longer for more body, or add a splash of milk; the cup stays balanced.
They are different leaf grades with different jobs. Our Ceylon English Breakfast is a broken FBOP from Dimbula: it brews faster and stronger, closer to a traditional breakfast mug. This Orange Pekoe is whole-leaf OP from Pettiagalla Estate: slower to infuse, lighter and smoother. Buy OP for relaxed sipping; buy English Breakfast for a brisk morning cup.
Both work. Plain, you get the full forest-like Ceylon character; with a splash of milk, the lighter liquor holds up without turning thin. Brew the tea on water first and add milk after — never onto dry leaf. It also makes a clean iced tea: brew double strength and pour over ice.
CUSTOMER RATING
4.9
Based on 30 reviews
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A fine example of an Orange Pekoe
The flavour is excellent and certainly surpasses the other brands have tried. There is an underlying sweetness to it and a hint of a fruity aroma that make this a very relaxing drink.
I love this tea
it's really smooth and comforting. This is a really pleasing cup of tea.
Perfect and flowery
Aromatic, flowery, smooth
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