Buyer Guides
A short buyer's guide to Assam CTC and Orthodox tea
Grades, cup profiles, packaging and shipping windows for international tea buyers new to Assam origin.
June 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Assam is one of the world's largest single-origin tea regions. This guide covers the grades most international buyers ask about, and what to look for on the cup.
CTC vs Orthodox
CTC (crush, tear, curl) is the workhorse of teabag manufacture — bold, brisk and quick to infuse. Orthodox whole-leaf is slower, more nuanced and suited to loose-leaf retail.
Grades at a glance
- BOP — Broken Orange Pekoe, medium-bodied
- BP — Broken Pekoe, stronger cup
- PD / Dust — Fastest infusion, teabag grade
Packaging & shipping
Multi-wall paper sacks with foil liners are the norm for ocean freight. Plan on a 20-30 day sailing window to Europe and 35-45 days to North America.