Home / Green tea grades
Service: supplier matching by gradeVietnamese green tea grades, and which suppliers make them
Vietnamese green tea is processed in several distinct styles. The right grade depends on brewing method, target retail price and end-consumer preference. Tell us the grade you need and we match you with up to 3 producers that make it, within 24 business hours.
Grade overview
| Grade | Style | Typical use | Main markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sao Suot | Pan-fired, traditional Vietnamese | Loose-leaf retail, blends | USA, EU, MENA |
| Sencha-style | Steamed, needle-shape | Bottled tea, ready-to-drink | Japan, Korea, Taiwan |
| OP (Orange Pekoe) | Long whole leaf | Premium loose-leaf | Russia, EU, MENA |
| BOP (Broken) | Broken leaf, faster brew | Tea bags, food service | USA, EU, Africa |
| Fannings / Dust | Fine particles | Industrial tea bags | Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq |
| Jasmine Green | Scented with fresh jasmine | Flavored tea, gift packs | USA, EU, Middle East |
| Tan Cuong | Single-origin Thai Nguyen specialty | Premium specialty retail | Japan, Germany, USA |
| Organic (USDA / EU / JAS) | Certified organic processing | Health and natural retail | USA, EU, Japan |
What each grade means for your spec
Pan-fired (Sao Suot) and hook-leaf teas
The traditional Vietnamese method: fresh leaf is heated in a rotating drum or pan to stop oxidation, then rolled and dried. Thai Nguyen producers are known for twisted, hook-shaped leaf with a toasty, sweet finish. Sold as loose-leaf retail tea and as a base for blends. Spec points: leaf style, broken content, moisture, color of liquor.
Sencha-style (steamed)
Leaf is steamed rather than pan-fired, then rolled into needle shapes. Produced mainly for Japan, Korea and Taiwan and for bottled or ready-to-drink tea, where color stability of the liquor matters. Lam Dong is the main source. Spec points: steaming time if known, needle length, liquor color, Japan positive list MRL compliance.
OP (Orange Pekoe) long leaf
Whole, long leaf sorted to size. A premium loose-leaf grade for Russia, the EU and MENA. Leaf appearance sells the product, so buyers specify maximum broken content and dust.
BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe)
Broken leaf with faster infusion. Used for tea bags and food service in the USA, EU and Africa. Buyers specify particle size range (mesh) because it controls bagging speed and cup strength.
Fannings and dust
Fine particles from sorting. The workhorse of industrial tea bags for Pakistan, Egypt and Iraq. Price-driven, so buyers should be precise about ash, moisture and foreign matter limits.
Jasmine green tea
Green tea base scented with fresh jasmine flowers. Used for flavored tea and gift packs. Specify natural scenting versus added flavor, since labeling rules differ by market.
Tan Cuong specialty
Single-origin tea from the Tan Cuong area of Thai Nguyen, the best-known name in Vietnamese green tea. Volumes are smaller and prices higher. Suited to specialty retail in Japan, Germany and the USA, where origin is printed on the pack.
Organic (USDA / EU / JAS)
Certified organic farms and processing. Volume is limited and typically commands a 25 to 40 percent premium over conventional grades. Ask for the certificate and verify it with the certifier; one certificate does not cover all three markets.
Commercial terms buyers can expect
Figures that apply across most grades. Individual suppliers quote their own terms.
| Bulk MOQ | Usually 1 metric ton per shipment |
|---|---|
| Bulk packing | 25 to 50 kg foil-lined paper sacks |
| 20 ft container | Roughly 18 metric tons |
| Production lead time | 3 to 5 weeks after PI signing |
| Transit from Ho Chi Minh City | 25 to 35 days to US West Coast and EU main ports |
| Samples | 100 to 250 g per supplier |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Typically 350 to 600 USD per container, paid by the buyer |
Grade questions
Which Vietnamese green tea grade is best for tea bags?
BOP (broken leaf) and fannings are the usual choice for tea bags because they infuse fast and pack densely. Fannings and dust suit high-speed industrial bagging; BOP suits retail bags where the buyer wants a slightly larger particle and a cleaner cup.
Is Vietnamese Sencha-style tea the same as Japanese sencha?
It uses the same steaming step to stop oxidation, which gives the green color and grassy, marine notes Japanese buyers expect. Cultivar, climate and rolling differ, so buyers normally cup samples against their current Japanese reference before committing, especially for bottled tea and RTD use.
Can I get one grade from several regions?
Yes. OP and BOP are produced in both the North and Lam Dong. The region changes the cup, the MRL risk profile and the harvest calendar, so state the origin in your RFQ if consistency matters, or say you are open and let the matched suppliers propose.
What should my grade specification include?
Grade name and leaf size, processing style, moisture limit, cup notes or a reference sample, the MRL regime of your market, packing format and annual volume. The RFQ form has fields for each of these and accepts your spec sheet as a file.
Choosing between regions as well as grades? See Vietnam's green tea regions.