Tea and Tea Leaf Grades

I recently ordered Fortnum and Mason Darjeeling FTGFOP

from Amazon.  The shipping took a few weeks because it was

shipped from a shop in Mayfair in London.

The tin is very pretty and is a "keeper." 

Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (FTGFOP) is the leaf grading of this Darjeeling tea. 

Description from the back of the tin:

"The Champagne of teas, harvested from the foothills of the Himalayas,

is one of the highest-grown teas from bushes more than a century old. 

Made from leaf tips of the highest quality, it has a subtle

muscatel taste."

Darjeeling tea is named after the Darjeeling District in India, where it is produced,

and is known as the Champagne of Teas. 

Darjeeling Flush refers to the four different and separate seasons 

for the tea plucking process throughout the year.

The 4 Darjeeling Flushes are: 

First Flush: The First Flush begins from late February to min-April. 

Second Flush: The Second Flush continues from May till June.

Monsoon or Rain Flush: The Flush starts from July and remains till September.

Autumn Flush: This Flush starts from October and remains till November. 

Each Flush has a distinct feature and taste. 

I chose this Darjeeling because of the excellent FTGFOP grade.

Here are the basic grades of tea: 

OP (Orange Pekoe): A whole-leaf black tea.  

FOP (Flowery Orange Pekoe): Long leaves with some tips (pekoes).

GFOP (Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe): An FOP with more tips.

TGFOP Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe): A GFOP with a whole lot of tips.

FTGFOP (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe): Traditionally the highest-quality 

grade of black tea.

You can see the floral design in the bottom of the cup through the tea.

This was a very smooth, delicious cup of tea. 

The English teacup trio is Paragon.

Oh, how I wish I had kept records on where and when I purchased

my various teacups, teapots, and trios.  I no longer remember all the details.