Tea Grading - Fannings, Dust, & Brick

Made from smaller, flat pieces of broken orange pekoe and used to make quick-brewing, strongly flavored, robust teas with good color. Broken Orange pekoe Fannings (BOP) is an example of how a tea would be grades and named.

Dust

Tiny bits of broken leaf used to brew strong tea quickly. This grade is popular with caterers.

Brick

Leaves (and perhaps stems as well) that have been steamed, then compressed to form a tablet. This was devised to facilitate transport on overland trading routes and is still popular in Tibet. Makes a rough cup of tea, but an interesting converation piece as many bricks are compressed in a mold with elaborate designs.