Leaf size is an important indicator of quality and strength, but whatever the size, all leaves should appear even, neatly made and free from dust. The very best tea comes from the Tip and Bud, where all the sap and energy of the bush are concentrated to achieve new growth.

Grading terminology, can seem almost comical to the layman, but conveys a great deal to the connoisseur:

• SFTGFOP: Special Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe is simply the best; 10 – 15 mm twists with plenty of tip and a smooth, luxurious taste.

• TFGOP: Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe and Flowery Orange Pekoe (FOP) refer to long twists of large leaf tea with a generous amount of tip and a superior smooth taste.

• OP: Orange Pekoe is a large leaf tea with whole rolled leaves, but not tippy.

• Pekoe is a smaller grade of tea leaf, moderately neat. The liquor has more colour than OP, but not the smoothness of flavour.

• G or FBOP: Golden or Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe is a neat, square leaf of 1 – 2 mm with plenty of pale tip; a sign of solid quality and strong taste.

• BOP: Broken Orange Pekoe is a smaller leaf with good strength and a neat, dust-free appearance. Many everyday teas are BOP and offer good quality, colour and flavour.

• BOPF: Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings and Dust are Orthodox leaves intentionally rolled and sifted small. It is consumed in local markets or for tea bags. The word 'pekoe' derives from the Chinese word pek-ho or baihao, this refers to the tiny silver hairs on the underside of the leaves of certain types of the tea bush. Orange comes from Holland's, ' House of Orange', the royal family of the first European country to import export tea and thus a name connected with the very best quality.