Why this term is often misunderstood and what really matters
Anyone who spends a lot of time studying tea will sooner or later stumble across letters.
OP. FOP. TGFOP.
They appear technical, almost a little out of touch with the times, yet they still appear on labels and in product descriptions today.
This is particularly confusing with jasmine tea. Is Orange Pekoe a variety? A quality indicator? Does it have something to do with the aroma or taste?
The short answer: no. The longer one is worthwhile.
Where the term Orange Pekoe comes from
Orange Pekoe is not a Chinese term, even though it sounds like one.
It originated in the European tea trade of the 19th century , when tea from India and Sri Lanka had to be systematically classified for auctions and export.
“Pekoe” most likely derives from a Chinese expression for the fine, white down of young tea buds.
“Orange”, on the other hand, has nothing to do with citrus fruits , but is usually attributed to the Dutch royal house of Orange-Nassau – a silent reference to “higher quality”.
To this day, Orange Pekoe (OP) refers exclusively to one thing:
whole, unbroken tea leaves of medium size
Nothing more. Nothing less.
A good, concise overview of the historical background can also be found here.
Surgery is not a quality promise.
This is the most important point and the one that is most frequently misunderstood. OP says nothing about:
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The taste
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Aromatics
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Origin
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Fragrance
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handcrafted quality
An OP tea can be excellent. Or completely average. It can taste mild, floral, or strong – depending on its origin and processing. The letters only describe how large and intact the leaf is , not how good the tea is.
And why does OP then appear in connection with jasmine tea?
Here, two worlds collide.
Traditional Chinese jasmine tea
In China, jasmine tea is not classified according to the Orange-Pekoe system . Instead, there are designations such as:
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Jasmin Chun Hao
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Jasmine Yin Hao
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Jasmine Dragon Pearls
These names refer to picking standard, leaf structure and fragrance quality – not to Western leaf grade logic.
Jasmine tea in Western trade
If you still see "Jasmine tea OP", it usually means that the base tea used (often a green tea) was sorted according to Western trade logic into medium-sized whole leaves . Nothing more.
OP is describing the leaf in this case, not the jasmine, not the fragrance, not the quality.
Why surgery is hardly relevant for jasmine tea
With jasmine tea, quality is determined elsewhere entirely:
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How fine and young is the base tea?
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Was it scented with fresh jasmine blossoms or just with aroma?
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How many times was the scenting process repeated?
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Is the jasmine present without overpowering the tea?
A carefully produced Jasmine Dragon Pearls tea can be sensorially far more complex than a large-leaf "OP" jasmine tea – even without any letter classification.
Understanding surgery – without giving it too much importance.
The term "OP" (operational method) isn't a mistake. But it's also not a measure of enjoyment. It can help you assess how the tea brews :
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whole leaves → usually gentler extraction
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clearer infusion
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less rapid bitterness
For everything else – scent, depth, lingering effect – more than words are needed. Or to put it another way:
Jasmine tea doesn't live by grades, but by patience and craftsmanship.
