orange pekoe

noun

orange pekoe

a superior grade of black tea made from the small leaves at the tips of the plant stems and growing in India and Sri Lanka

First recorded in 1875–80

"The condemned man ate a hearty tea of Orange Pekoe and cress sandwiches," he reflected silently.

But here he had to choose intelligently among orange pekoe, oolong, Ceylon, and English-breakfast teas.

Tea gathered exclusively from buds and tips is called "flowery;" if the first young leaf be included, it is "orange pekoe."

The second leaves make the tea called "orange pekoe," while the third leaves produce a grade of tea called simply "pekoe."

Becky ate little cream cakes with fluted crusts, and drank Orange Pekoe.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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