In the UK Orange Pekoe tea is regularly drunk by black tea drinkers who appreciate its distinctive, refined flavour. When poured, it is amber in colour and has a noticeably malty taste to it, with hints of honey, citrus, and a dash of floral undertones that all come together to form a perfect blend that satisfies to the same level that it delights and it can be served hot, or cold over ice.
From it’s name, one might reasonably assume that Orange Pekoe has at least a hint of orange flavour to it, but it does not, and actually doesn’t even contain orange as an ingredient. Rather than indicating its taste, the ‘Orange’ is a grading term that’s used in the tea industry to classify the size and quality of the tea leaves themselves. The term ‘Pekoe’ refers to the very young leaves of the tea plant, which are chosen because they have a very delicate and subtle taste to them.
Orange Pekoe tea leaves are tenderly hand-picked from the Camellia Sinensis plant, specifically the young and tender leaves found at the very top of the Camellia Sinensis plant. When harvested, the leaves are subject to a series of specialist processes which further heightens their flavour.
The leaves are then subsequently rolled which helps to release natural oils and gives Orange Pekoe tea its distinctive twisted form. After rolling the tea is then left to oxidise, and then the leaves are categorised by hand into groups based on their size, their appearance, and their assessed quality. The very highest quality Orange Pekoe tea in the UK is sold as whole, fully-formed leaves.
Orange Pekoe, with its unparalleled quality and refined taste, has captured the hearts and palates of tea connoisseurs worldwide. From the lush tea plantations of India, to the breakfast tables of Britain, Orange Pekoe tea offers a luxurious and invigorating experience to anyone who appreciates high quality tea.
With truly global appeal, Orange Pekoe tea in the UK has become a firm favourite with tea enthusiasts who seek an invigorating aroma and a delicate body with truly nuanced flavours.
Us Brit’s take the subject of tea extremely seriously and we won’t be fobbed-off with a poor quality, tasteless brew. Whilst high quality teas of Indian origin can be slightly more expensive than mass-produced teas, they are most definitely considered to be worth the extra cost by the majority of British tea drinkers.
So there you have it; a legendary tea with an illustrious heritage in the UK, the Orange Pekoe tea - raise your teacups, butter-up a scone, and make a toast to a blend that deserves to be celebrated!