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한국어 Ceylon Product Grades Explained
Decode the grades for Sri Lanka’s key exports: Ceylon cinnamon (Alba, C5, H1…), tea (OP, BOP, BOPF…), pepper, cardamom and more. Know exactly what to ask for, then get a quote for that grade. Type a product or grade to filter.
| Product | Grade | What it means | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceylon Cinnamon | Alba | Quills ≤6 mm in diameter, the finest, thinnest, most delicate quills. | Premium |
| Ceylon Cinnamon | C5 Special | Quills 7 to 9 mm. Premium continental grade, just above C5. | Premium |
| Ceylon Cinnamon | C5 | Quills 10 to 12 mm. The most widely traded high grade. | High |
| Ceylon Cinnamon | C4 | Quills 13 to 15 mm. Slightly thicker, still superior quality. | High |
| Ceylon Cinnamon | M5 / M4 | Mexican grades, ~16 to 18 mm. Good value-for-quality. | Medium |
| Ceylon Cinnamon | H1 / H2 | Hamburg grades, ~20 mm and up, heavier, coarser quills for commercial use. | Commercial |
| Ceylon Cinnamon | Quillings / Featherings / Chips | Broken pieces, inner-bark shavings and bark chips, economy grades, often for grinding or oil. | Economy |
| Ceylon Tea | OP (Orange Pekoe) | Long, wiry whole leaf; light, fragrant cup. (“OPA” = bolder OP.) | Whole-leaf |
| Ceylon Tea | Pekoe | Shorter, more curled whole leaf; rounded, smooth cup. | Whole-leaf |
| Ceylon Tea | BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe) | Broken leaf; brisk, full-bodied, quick infusion. The most popular Ceylon black grade. | Broken |
| Ceylon Tea | FBOP (Flowery BOP) | Broken leaf with golden tips; flavorful, premium broken grade. | Broken (premium) |
| Ceylon Tea | BOPF (BOP Fannings) | Smaller, finely broken; strong, bold, fast-brewing. Common in blends. | Fannings |
| Ceylon Tea | Dust (D1 / PD) | Finest particles; very strong, fast steep, the typical tea-bag grade. | Dust |
| Ceylon Tea | Elevation (any leaf grade) | High-grown (>1200 m: Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Uva) = light & aromatic; Mid-grown (600 to 1200 m: Kandy) = balanced; Low-grown (<600 m: Ruhuna, Sabaragamuwa) = strong & dark. | Region |
| Black Pepper | MG1 (garbled) | Cleaned/garbled berries, ~550 to 600 g/L bulk density. The standard export grade. | Standard export |
| Black Pepper | Ungarbled / Light berries | Uncleaned or low-density berries; lower grade, often for grinding or oil. | Lower |
| Black Pepper | White pepper | Decorticated (outer skin removed); milder, premium. | Premium |
| Cardamom | AGEB | Alleppey Green Extra Bold, the largest, greenest pods (8 mm+). Top grade. | Premium |
| Cardamom | AGB | Alleppey Green Bold, large bold pods, one step below AGEB. | High |
| Cloves | Hand-picked whole | Whole buds, low headless %, low stems. Premium, high oil. | Premium |
| Desiccated Coconut | Fine / Medium / Coarse | Cut size of the shredded coconut; plus low-fat and chip variants for specific recipes. | By cut |
| Coconut Oil | Crude / RBD / Virgin | Crude (unrefined), RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized), and cold-pressed Virgin (premium). | By process |
| Cashew | W180 / W240 / W320 / W450 | White whole kernels by count per pound, lower number = bigger, premium (W180 largest, W320 most-traded). Scorched (SW) and dessert (DW) wholes grade lower. | By size |
Which grade should you order?
Match the grade to your use and price point. For cinnamon, retail and gourmet buyers favor Alba / C5 Special; food manufacturers and grinders often use C4 to M5 or quillings, and growers can measure their own quills with the cinnamon grade calculator. For tea, choose by leaf style (whole-leaf OP/Pekoe for specialty, BOP/BOPF for strong everyday, Dust for tea bags) and by elevation for character. For pepper, MG1 garbled is the export standard, so check yours with the pepper grade calculator. For cardamom, larger, deep-green AGEB / AGB pods command the premium, so see the cardamom grade calculator. Not sure? See indicative prices on our Ceylon commodity prices page, then ask our Trade Desk to recommend a grade for your market.
Know the grade you need?
Tell us the product, grade and quantity, and we’ll match you with verified Sri Lankan exporters and get you firm quotes, free.
Request a quote →Frequently asked questions
What is the best grade of Ceylon cinnamon?
Alba is the finest, the thinnest quills (≤6 mm), smoothest and most delicate, followed by C5 Special and C5. “Best” depends on use, though: grinders and manufacturers often prefer thicker, cheaper grades (C4 to M5) or quillings, which deliver the same flavor at lower cost.
What do the Ceylon tea grades (OP, BOP, BOPF) mean?
They describe leaf size, not quality: OP = whole leaf (lighter cup), BOP = broken leaf (brisk, full-bodied), BOPF = fannings (small, strong), Dust = finest particles (tea bags). Ceylon tea is also classified by elevation (high / mid / low grown), which drives the character.
What does MG1 mean for black pepper?
MG1 is the standard garbled (cleaned) export grade of black pepper, specified by bulk density (around 550 to 600 g/L). Higher density and piperine generally mean a better, pricier lot.
Are higher grades always better value?
Not necessarily. The grade sets appearance and size, not always flavor, for example, thicker cinnamon (C4/M5) or quillings can give the same taste as Alba at a much lower price if you’re grinding it. Pick the grade that fits your use and margin.