The finest orthodox teas are hand-picked from the uppermost section of cultivars of Camellia sinensis . Unbroken teas have relatively large and intact leaves.
Broken teas are a step below full-leaf teas.
The leaves have become fragmented, torn, or broken into pieces during the manufacturing process. Some tea experts claim that the different grades of tea say little about the quality of the tea - only its leaf size. These teas are characterized by the presence of tips, a complex cup, and a high price tag. Where quality is paramount, the full-leaf tea is highly sought after by tea merchants and tea lovers. The following system of grading is recognized as a standard for coding leaf size in India.