What Do BOP, BOPF and Extra Special Actually Mean? A Straight Answer

I get asked this a lot, so I figured it was time to just write it down properly.

If you've picked up a bag of our tea and seen letters like BOP or BOPF on it and wondered what on earth that means, you're not the only one. Most brands just print it on the label and leave you to figure it out. I never liked that, so here's the plain version, the way I'd explain it if you were standing in front of me.

First, the bit nobody tells you

These letters aren't a quality rating. They don't mean one is "better" than another. They describe the size of the leaf and how it was processed after picking, and that's really it. Smaller leaf pieces steep faster and give you a stronger cup quicker. Bigger, whole leaves take their time and tend to be gentler and more fragrant. It's less about good versus bad and more about what kind of cup you're actually after.

BOP, or Broken Orange Pekoe

This is your everyday, no-nonsense tea. The leaves get broken down into small, even pieces during processing, which means it brews fast and gives you that deep, reddish, full-bodied cup most people picture when they think of a proper black tea. Our BOP is the one I'd hand you if you just wanted a strong, reliable cup and didn't want to think too hard about it.

BOPF, or Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings

Take BOP and go a step smaller. Fannings are finer particles, so they infuse even faster and give you an even bolder cup without needing a long steep. If you're the type who wants strength and doesn't have three minutes to wait around, this is it.

Extra Special, or FFExSp

This one's different. It's a more delicate, more selective grade, chosen for brightness and aroma rather than raw strength. I always tell people to try this one plain, no milk, because that's when you actually taste what makes it special. Honestly, it's the tea I give to people who've told me before that they "don't really like tea." It tends to change their mind.

So which one's actually right for you?

If you want something strong and simple for your morning routine, go BOP or BOPF. If you want something a bit more refined to sit with and actually taste, go Extra Special. And if you're not sure you even like black tea yet, start with one of our flavored ones like the Earl Grey or the Ginger, Honey & Lemon, they're a gentler way in.

And however you brew it

Boil your water properly. One teaspoon of leaf per cup, around 200ml of water. Three to four minutes for black tea, a bit less for green. Then decide for yourself if you want milk, but I'd always say try it plain first at least once.

Every bag we sell is packed straight from our estate in Sri Lanka. Nothing gets blended or repackaged along the way. What you get is exactly what left the farm.

If you've got questions about any of this, just message us, I'm always happy to talk tea.