Fannings & Dust Tea Grade Comparison Guide
Compare leaf sizes, brewing strength, cup color, and best uses across premium fannings and dust Ceylon teas including BOPF and Dust 1.
The complete guide to Sri Lanka Tea Board standard Fannings and Dust grades, organizing BOPF and Dust 1 teas by leaf size, taste profile, and best brewing methods.
Taste Heatmap & Grade Comparison
Compare tea color, strength, caffeine levels (~mg per cup), body, and natural aroma side-by-side.
Official Ceylon Tea Grades Matrix
Official Sri Lanka Tea Board Standard Nomenclature for Global Importers & Blenders. (14 Grades Found)
| Grade Code | Category | Particle & Appearance Description | Origin Terroir | FOB Colombo Est. | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOPF Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings | Black Tea | Smaller than BOP leaves, broken leaf, slightly larger than dust (1.0mm - 2.0mm) "Smaller than BOP leaves, neat broken fannings. Rapid color infusion and potent briskness make it the benchmark for high-speed automated tea bag packaging." | Dimbula / Kandy / Uva | $4.20 - $5.80 / kg FOB | |
FBOPF Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings | Black Tea | Firm fannings particle leaf consisting of fine silvery/golden tips "Similar to the BOP leaf cut but firm leaf and consisting of a few tips. Offers an exceptionally fast liquor infusion coupled with aromatic tip sweetness." | Low Grown / Sabaragamuwa / Ruhuna | $7.50 - $11.00 / kg FOB | |
FBOPF1 Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings 1 | Black Tea | Firm fannings with a higher percentage of silver & golden tips "Similar to BOPF but firm leaf consisting of more tips than FBOPF. Highly prized across the Middle East and Russia for its tippy appearance and rich infusion." | Low Grown / Ruhuna | $9.50 - $15.00 / kg FOB | |
FBOPF SP Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Special | Black Tea | Firm, jet-black leaf particles crowned with abundant silvery tips "Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Special – Similar to FBOPF1 but firm, more jet-black leaf with much better tips. High market demand and commanding premium prices." | Ruhuna / Low Grown | $12.00 - $22.00 / kg FOB | |
D Dust | Black Tea | Fine powder particles, slightly brown color "Similar to D1 but appears slightly brownish powder leaves with economical commercial pricing. Delivers instant dark color and potent astringency." | High & Medium Grown | $2.80 - $4.00 / kg FOB | |
D1 Dust 1 | Black Tea | The smallest of traditional particles, smaller than fannings (0.3mm - 0.8mm) "The smallest particle size smaller than Fannings leaves. Renowned for instant liquor extraction, maximum color yield, and high caffeine punch." | High / Medium / Low Grown | $3.50 - $4.80 / kg FOB | |
PF1 Pekoe Fannings 1 | CTC Tea | Small CTC fannings granules (similar to BP1 but smaller pieces) "Pekoe Fannings 1 – Similar to BP1 but smaller pieces. Fast-brewing, intense dark red liquor designed for automated tea bag manufacturing." | Low & Medium Grown CTC Estates | $3.40 - $4.70 / kg FOB | |
PD Pekoe Dust | CTC Tea | The smallest of CTC particles (smaller than PF1 granules) "Pekoe Dust – The smallest of particles smaller than PF1 leaves. Yields ultra-rapid color, heavy body, and maximum extraction volume per gram." | CTC Processing Hubs | $2.90 - $4.10 / kg FOB | |
FNGS Fannings | Off Grades | Fannings broken leaves, slightly larger than dust "Fannings broken leaves, slightly larger than dust particles. Separated during sorting to provide fast coloration and strong brisk liquor." | All Elevation Regions | $2.90 - $3.90 / kg FOB | |
FNGS 1 Fannings 1 | Off Grades | Fannings broken leaves, slightly larger and cleaner cut than FNGS "Fannings broken leaves, slightly larger than FNGS. Cleaner grading and more uniform particle size for dependable automated packing." | Medium & High Grown | $3.10 - $4.20 / kg FOB | |
PFNGS Pekoe Fannings | Off Grades | Pekoe fannings broken leaves, slightly larger than dust "Pekoe fannings broken leaves, slightly larger than dust. Derives from curled traditional leaf grades, offering a smooth yet rapid brew." | Low & Medium Grown | $3.00 - $4.00 / kg FOB | |
PFNGS 1 Pekoe Fannings 1 | Off Grades | Pekoe fannings broken leaves, slightly larger and more even than PFNGS "Pekoe fannings broken leaves, slightly larger than PFNGS. Superior liquor cleanliness and fast infusion speed." | High & Low Grown | $3.20 - $4.30 / kg FOB | |
GTFF Green Tea Flowery Fannings | Green Tea | Firm green fannings leaf consisting of fine white tips (similar to BOPF cut) "Similar to the BOPF firm leaf cut but distinct vibrant green color consisting of tender tips. Fast brewing speed for automated pyramid green tea bags." | High & Mid Grown | $5.80 - $8.20 / kg FOB | |
GTFF1 Green Tea Flowery Fannings 1 | Green Tea | Firm green fannings, slightly larger in particle cut than GTFF "Similar to GTFF but slightly bigger in particle size with higher tip ratio. Balances rapid color extraction with smooth, non-bitter green tea sweetness." | High Grown | $6.50 - $9.20 / kg FOB |
Understanding Ceylon Tea Grades
In Sri Lanka, tea grades refer strictly to the leaf size, shape, and the presence of tender buds — not the overall quality. An unbroken whole leaf (like OP1) and a broken leaf (like BOP) from the same mountain garden share the same fine quality, but they brew differently.
Whole Leaf grades (OP1, OP, OPA) steep slowly and release gentle, floral aromas that are wonderful for loose-leaf teapots. Broken grades (BOP, FBOP) and Fannings (BOPF) infuse quickly to give a strong, full-bodied cup with deep reddish color — perfect for morning tea and everyday tea bags.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The chart organizes Sri Lankan teas by leaf size, region, cup color, brewing speed, and best uses, making it easy to choose whole leaves for teapots or fine cuts for tea bags.
