CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) tea is the engine of the Indian tea industry. It’s what gives our chai its characteristic color and strength. But if you look at our price list, you see terms like BP, OF, PD. What do they mean?
Sourcing tea for your business?
Get wholesale pricing on premium CTC, Assam, and Darjeeling teas. We dispatch free samples across India within 48 hours.
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Decoding the Jargon
Sourcing tea for your business?
Get wholesale pricing on premium CTC, Assam, and Darjeeling teas. We dispatch free samples across India within 48 hours.
Request Free Samples →Tea is graded by size, not necessarily quality. However, the size determines how the tea brews.
For Tea Stalls & Hotels (The Quick Brew)
If you run a high-volume tea stall, you need color—fast. Customers won't wait 10 minutes.
- Recommended Grades: Dust, PD (Pekoe Dust), or OF (Orange Fannings).
- Why: Smaller granules have more surface area, releasing strong liquor instantly. Check out our Tea Dust (Hotel Special).
For Households (The Flavorful Cup)
Home consumers prefer a balance of flavor and strength. They don't like the "muddy" texture of pure dust.
- Recommended Grades: BP (Broken Pekoe) or BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe). Many households buy BP grade tea in bulk for everyday consumption.
- Why: These larger granules take 3-4 minutes to brew but provide a richer, smoother taste.
The Secret: Blending
Most successful brands don't sell just one grade. They blend. A common mix is 60% BP (for flavor) + 40% OF (for color). At Manish Tea Traders, we have ready-made blends like Rajni Gold and Begam Gold that are pre-mixed for the perfect cup.