CTC vs Orthodox: Two Ways to Make Assam

Assam is processed two ways. CTC (crush, tear, curl) makes the brisk, strong granules behind most tea bags and builders' tea. Orthodox keeps the leaf whole for a more nuanced cup. Here is how they differ, why the chemistry diverges, and when to reach for each.

Assam Tea Grades

A grade names the size of the made leaf and how much golden tip rides in it, not the flavor. The complete reference: how a tea is graded, the four sizes, the orthodox lettered alphabet, the CTC codes, and what a grade does and does not promise.