Orthodox manufacture
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German: Orthodoxe Herstellung Also known as: Orthodox, Orthodoxer Tee, Orthodox Tea
The traditional method of black tea manufacture with withering, rolling, oxidation and drying, in which the leaf largely stays intact.
In the orthodox method the leaves are withered, rolled, oxidised, dried and then sifted by leaf size. Rolling is gentle, producing whole or coarsely broken leaves. This gives rise to leaf grades such as OP, FOP or BOP.
Orthodox teas are regarded as more complex and release their aroma more slowly than CTC tea. The method is typical of Darjeeling, many Ceylon teas and high-quality Assam lots. The term "orthodox" mainly distinguishes it from the mechanised CTC process.
Related terms
CTC methodDarjeelingOrange Pekoe (OP)Rolling (tea)Tea grades
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