India, Sri Lanka and Africa use the same black tea grading system. Tea is coded with letters that correspond to their grade. For example, a Darjeeling tea from Castleton Estate may be sold as Darjeeling FTGFOP Castleton.
Below is a table for the designations used for both orthodox and CTC grades of Indian Black tea ranging from the highest grade (SFTGFOP) to the lowest (BPS).
| Grades of Orthodox Indian Black Tea | |
| Whole Leaf | |
| SFTGFOP | Special Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (smallest whole leaf) The finest FOP available. |
| FTGFOP | Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (medium whole leaf) FOP of outstanding quality. |
| TGFOP | Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (medium whole leaf) FOP with a high proportion of golden tips. |
| GFOP | Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (large whole leaf) FOP with golden tips. |
| FOP | Flowery Orange Pekoe (extra-large whole leaf) |
| FP | Flowery Pekoe |
| OP | Orange Pekoe |
| Broken Leaf | |
| GFBOP | Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe |
| GBOP | Golden Broken Orange Pekoe |
| FBOP | Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe |
| BOP1 | Broken Orange Pekoe one |
| BOP | Broken Orange Pekoe |
| BPS | Broken Pekoe Souchong |
| OP | Orange Pekoe |
| Grades of CTC Tea | |
| Broken Leaf | |
| FP | Flowery Pekoe |
| PEK | Pekoe |
| BOP | Broken Orange Pekoe |
| BP1 | Broken Pekoe One |
| BP | Broken Pekoe |
| BPS | Broken Pekoe Souchong |
