Aalphaa Orthodox Tea
Aalphaa is Ametheus’ orthodox tea line. The leaf is rolled in the traditional way, not crushed in a CTC machine, so you get whole twisted leaf, broken leaf, fannings and dust — each with its own cup.
We make this tea in two styles:
- Spring (Greenish) — lighter, greener leaf and a bright golden cup. Best when you want a fresh, first-flush character.
- Copper (Blackish) — darker, more twisted leaf and a deeper amber to copper-red cup. Best when you want a fuller, classic black tea.
Shares below are typical of the make. They can move a few points either way from lot to lot.
Green tea, white tea and golden-tippy fine leaf are offered as separate selected lots, not as part of the Spring / Copper grade mix.
What you can buy
- Selected lots AAL-01 to AAL-12 — tasting sets. Each photo shows dry leaf next to the cup, so you can judge make, tip and liquor colour before you order.
- Full grade range — whole leaf, secondary leaf, flakes, broken, fannings and dust, in both Spring and Copper.
Ask for samples, price and packing by lot number or by grade name.
The six grades
Same six grades in both Spring and Copper. Only the leaf size changes — from long twisted whole leaf down to dust.
SFTGFOP1 — Best whole leaf
FTGFOP / BPS — Secondary leaf
GBOP — Flakes
STGBOP — Broken
STGOF1 — Fannings
FOF — Dust
1. SFTGFOP1 — Best whole leaf : Spring (Greenish) 40% | Copper (Blackish) 55%
2. FTGFOP / BPS — Secondary leaf: Spring (Greenish) 8% | Copper (Blackish) 8%
3. GBOP — Flakes: Spring ( Greenish) 7% | Copper (Blackish) 8%
4. STGBOP — Broken: Spring (Greenish) 24% | Copper (Blackish) 18%
5. STGOF1 — Fannings: Spring (Greenish) 15% | Copper (Blackish) 6%
6. FOF — Dust: Spring (Greenish) 6% | Copper (Blackish) 5%
Grade and product assortment
Approximate share of each style. May vary a few points ±.
| Grade | What it is | Spring (Greenish) | Copper (Blackish) |
| SFTGFOP1 | Best whole leaf | 40% | 55% |
| FTGFOP / BPS | Secondary leaf | 8% | 8% |
| GBOP | Flakes | 7% | 8% |
| STGBOP | Broken | 24% | 18% |
| STGOF1 | Fannings | 15% | 6% |
| FOF | Dust | 6% | 5% |
| Total | 100% | 100% |
In plain terms: Spring gives you more broken leaf and fannings. Copper gives you more of the top whole-leaf grade.
Aalphaa Spring (Greenish)
- Aalphaa Spring Super Fine Whole Leaf — SFTGFOP1 — 40%
- Aalphaa Spring Secondary Leaf — FTGFOP / BPS — 8%
- Aalphaa Spring Golden Flakes — GBOP — 7%
- Aalphaa Spring Tippy Broken — STGBOP — 24%
- Aalphaa Spring Tippy Fannings — STGOF1 — 15%
- Aalphaa Spring Dust — FOF — 6%
Aalphaa Copper (Blackish)
- Aalphaa Copper Super Fine Whole Leaf — SFTGFOP1 — 55%
- Aalphaa Copper Secondary Leaf — FTGFOP / BPS — 8%
- Aalphaa Copper Golden Flakes — GBOP — 8%
- Aalphaa Copper Tippy Broken — STGBOP — 18%
- Aalphaa Copper Tippy Fannings — STGOF1 — 6%
- Aalphaa Copper Dust — FOF — 5%
Selected lots
Twelve tasting lots. Each photo is dry leaf beside the cup. Ask by lot number.
Lot 01 — Aalphaa Spring (Greenish) Super Fine Whole Leaf
The top Spring whole-leaf grade. Fine greenish leaf with silver tips and a bright golden-yellow cup.
Lot AAL-01 is the finest Spring whole leaf in this list — grade SFTGFOP1 (Tippy).
The dry leaf is fine and wiry, greenish-black, with plenty of silver-green tips. That greenish look is the Spring style: lighter leaf, not the darker Copper make.
In the cup it brews bright golden-yellow. The character is light and fresh, closer to a first-flush tea than to a heavy black tea.
Choose this lot when you want the best-looking Spring leaf and a clean, bright cup. Ask for AAL-01.
Best for: Buyers who want top Spring whole leaf and a bright cup.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-01 |
| Style | Spring (Greenish) |
| Grade | SFTGFOP1 (Tippy) |
| Season | Spring |
| Dry leaf | Fine, wiry greenish-black whole leaf with silver-green tips. |
| Liquor | Bright golden-yellow. |
Lot 02 — Aalphaa Copper (Blackish) Super Fine Whole Leaf — SFTGFOP1 Tippy
Top Copper whole leaf. Black twisted leaf with copper-orange tips and a clear amber-orange cup.
Lot AAL-02 is the top Copper whole-leaf grade — SFTGFOP1 (Tippy).
The dry leaf is well twisted and black, with clear copper-orange tips. This is the blackish style: darker leaf and a fuller cup than Spring.
The liquor is clear amber-orange. It looks bright in the cup and shows the copper colour the style is named for.
Choose this lot when you want classic tippy black tea at the highest whole-leaf grade. Ask for AAL-02.
Best for: Buyers who want top-grade Copper whole leaf with visible tips.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-02 |
| Style | Copper (Blackish) |
| Grade | SFTGFOP1 (Tippy) |
| Season | Main crop |
| Dry leaf | Well-twisted black whole leaf with copper-orange tips. |
| Liquor | Clear amber-orange. |
Lot 03 — Aalphaa Copper (Blackish) Super Fine Whole Leaf — SFTGFOP Tippy
Even black twisted leaf with golden-copper tips and a deep copper-red liquor.
Lot AAL-03 is Aalphaa Copper Super Fine Whole Leaf, graded SFTGFOP Tippy.
The dry leaf is even and black, well twisted, with visible golden-copper tips.
The liquor is a deep copper-red cup with good brightness.
Choose this lot when you want a fuller-coloured tippy Copper black. Ask for AAL-03.
Best for: Buyers who want a deeper copper-red cup with visible tips.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-03 |
| Style | Copper (Blackish) |
| Grade | SFTGFOP Tippy |
| Season | Main crop |
| Dry leaf | Even black twisted leaf with golden-copper tips. |
| Liquor | Deep copper-red, bright. |
Lot 04 — Aalphaa Copper (Blackish) Super Fine Whole Leaf — SFTGFOP1
Compact black whole leaf, even make, copper tips throughout, and a rich copper-red cup.
Lot AAL-04 is Aalphaa Copper Super Fine Whole Leaf, graded SFTGFOP1 Tippy.
The dry leaf is compact and black, even in make, with copper tips throughout.
The liquor is a rich copper-red cup — full colour and clear.
Choose this lot when you want a strong Copper tippy presentation. Ask for AAL-04.
Best for: Buyers who want compact Copper whole leaf with full cup colour.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-04 |
| Style | Copper (Blackish) |
| Grade | SFTGFOP1 Tippy |
| Season | Main crop |
| Dry leaf | Compact black whole leaf, even make, copper tips throughout. |
| Liquor | Rich copper-red. |
Lot 05 — Aalphaa Spring (Greenish) Super Fine Whole Leaf — SFTGFOP-1 / WSPL
Fine greenish-brown Spring whole leaf with a bright golden-amber cup.
Lot AAL-05 is Aalphaa Spring Super Fine Whole Leaf, graded SFTGFOP-1 / WSPL.
The dry leaf is fine and greenish-brown. It is a Spring make: lighter colour than the Copper lots.
The liquor is bright golden-amber.
Choose this lot when you want Spring whole leaf with a slightly warmer cup than Lot 01. Ask for AAL-05.
Best for: Buyers who want Spring whole leaf with a golden-amber cup.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-05 |
| Style | Spring (Greenish) |
| Grade | SFTGFOP-1 / WSPL |
| Season | Spring |
| Dry leaf | Fine greenish-brown spring whole leaf. |
| Liquor | Bright golden-amber. |
Lot 06 — Aalphaa Spring (Greenish) Whole Leaf
Open greenish Spring leaf with silver tips and a warm golden-yellow liquor.
Lot AAL-06 is Aalphaa Spring Whole Leaf.
The dry leaf is more open than the super-fine Spring grades, greenish, with silver tips.
The liquor is warm golden-yellow.
Choose this lot when you want a regular Spring whole leaf, not the tightest super-fine make. Ask for AAL-06.
Best for: Buyers who want an open Spring whole leaf at a useful everyday grade.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-06 |
| Style | Spring (Greenish) |
| Grade | Whole Leaf |
| Season | Spring |
| Dry leaf | Open greenish spring leaf with silver tips. |
| Liquor | Warm golden-yellow. |
Lot 07 — Aalphaa Green Tea
Dark olive-green twisted leaf with a pale greenish-yellow cup.
Lot AAL-07 is Aalphaa Green Tea. This is a selected green lot, not part of the Spring / Copper black-tea mix.
The dry leaf is dark olive-green and twisted.
The liquor is pale greenish-yellow.
Choose this lot when you want a green orthodox tea from the same line. Ask for AAL-07.
Best for: Buyers looking for green tea alongside the black lots.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-07 |
| Style | Green |
| Grade | Green Tea |
| Season | Seasonal |
| Dry leaf | Dark olive-green twisted leaf. |
| Liquor | Pale greenish-yellow. |
Lot 08 — Aalphaa White Tea
Silvery-green downy white leaf with a very pale straw liquor.
Lot AAL-08 is Aalphaa White Tea. This is a selected white lot, not part of the Spring / Copper mix.
The dry leaf is silvery-green and downy.
The liquor is very pale straw.
Choose this lot when you want a light white tea from the same line. Ask for AAL-08.
Best for: Buyers looking for white tea alongside the black lots.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-08 |
| Style | White |
| Grade | White Tea |
| Season | Early flush |
| Dry leaf | Silvery-green downy white leaf. |
| Liquor | Very pale straw. |
Lot 09 — Aalphaa Copper (Blackish) Whole Leaf — Lot 09
Dark twisted whole leaf with scattered copper tips and an amber-gold cup.
Lot AAL-09 is Aalphaa Copper Whole Leaf.
The dry leaf is dark and twisted, with scattered copper tips.
The liquor is amber-gold.
Choose this lot when you want a Copper whole leaf that is not the super-fine tippy grade. Ask for AAL-09.
Best for: Buyers who want a regular Copper whole leaf with some tip.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-09 |
| Style | Copper (Blackish) |
| Grade | Whole Leaf |
| Season | Main crop |
| Dry leaf | Dark twisted whole leaf with scattered copper tips. |
| Liquor | Amber-gold. |
Lot 10 — Aalphaa Spring (Greenish) Silver Leaf
Greenish-black leaf with bright silver tips and a light golden-yellow liquor.
Lot AAL-10 is Aalphaa Spring Silver Leaf.
The dry leaf is greenish-black with bright silver tips. The silver tip is the main feature.
The liquor is light golden-yellow.
Choose this lot when you want Spring leaf with a clear silver-tip look. Ask for AAL-10.
Best for: Buyers who want silver tip as the main Spring feature.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-10 |
| Style | Spring (Greenish) |
| Grade | Silver Leaf |
| Season | Spring |
| Dry leaf | Greenish-black leaf with bright silver tips. |
| Liquor | Light golden-yellow. |
Lot 11 — Aalphaa Golden Tippy Fine
Long golden-brown tips and a bright golden-yellow cup. The most tippy lot in the list.
Lot AAL-11 is Aalphaa Golden Tippy Fine. This is a selected tippy lot, not a standard grade from the Spring / Copper mix.
The dry leaf is long and wiry, golden-brown. The tips are the product — that is what you are buying.
The liquor is bright golden-yellow.
Choose this lot when you want golden tip as the main feature, for display or for a fine cup. Ask for AAL-11.
Best for: Buyers who want golden tip as the main feature.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-11 |
| Style | Golden Tippy |
| Grade | Golden Tippy Fine |
| Season | Select flush |
| Dry leaf | Long, wiry golden-brown tips. |
| Liquor | Bright golden-yellow. |
Lot 12 — Aalphaa Copper (Blackish) Whole Leaf — Lot 12
Even Copper whole leaf with copper speckling and a clear amber cup.
Lot AAL-12 is Aalphaa Copper Whole Leaf.
The dry leaf is even and black, with copper speckling through the leaf.
The liquor is clear amber.
Choose this lot as a clean, regular Copper whole-leaf option. Ask for AAL-12.
Best for: Buyers who want a clean, even Copper whole leaf.
| SKU / Lot | AAL-12 |
| Style | Copper (Blackish) |
| Grade | Whole Leaf |
| Season | Main crop |
| Dry leaf | Even black whole leaf with copper speckling. |
| Liquor | Clear amber. |
Enquiry
For samples, pricing and packing, write to us with the lot number (AAL-01 to AAL-12) or the grade name.
ametheus.com/aalphaa-orthodox-tea
