BROKEN ORANGE PEKOE TEA

Orange Pekoe tea is a grade for a black tea with specific leaf size.  A tea is classified as an Orange Pekoe (OP grade) because it consists of top two leaves and a bud. Broken Orange Pekoe teas are medium grade leaves with smaller leaves than the OP. Broken Orange Pekoe tea is abbreviated as BOP and this grade is prevalent in Ceylon, Assam, Southern India, China and Java.  The orange term is often mistaken for orange flavour, however it refers to the copper-orange color the leaf before drying.  BOP is used in tea leaves or used as loose leaf tea. 
Brewing Method
Brewing a cup of BOP tea is very simple.  Fresh water and a teapot are two essentials for cooking a tea. Avoid hard water as essential flavours of tea may be lost. Correct temperature of water is important to boil the tea. Like most black teas, 1 tsp BOP should be directly infused into 6 ounces (175ml) of boiling water for 3-4 minutes at 180oF (80oC). Add sugar as per taste.

Storing Tea
Broken Orange Pekoe Tea should be stored in an airtight container to avoid light and moisture. Take care to keep the container in a cool, dry place and away from spices or flavouring agents because tea can absorb flavours. Store large quantities of tea in a master container and shift only small batches in the small dispensing  container for daily use. Store BOP in the stainless steel container and ceramic container for better taste. Tea stored in a glass container may loose their flavour quicky because light decomposes flavour of the tea.