pekoe

[ pee-koh ]

noun

1. a superior kind of black tea from Sri Lanka, India, and Java, made from leaves coarser than those used for orange pekoe.

pekoe

/ ˈpiːkəʊ /

noun

1. a high-quality tea made from the downy tips of the young buds of the tea plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of pekoe¹

1705–15; < dialectal Chinese (Xiamen) pek-ho, akin to Chinese báu white + hòu empress

Word History and Origins

Origin of pekoe¹

C18: from Chinese (Amoy) peh ho, from peh white + ho down

Example Sentences

The Pekoe is a particular kind of tea-shrub, the leaves of which are all black on the one side, and all white on the other.

From Project Gutenberg

This changes the quality of the Pekoe, for these leaves being scarcely formed, can have very little sap or flavour.

From Project Gutenberg

"The condemned man ate a hearty tea of Orange Pekoe and cress sandwiches," he reflected silently.

From Project Gutenberg

But here he had to choose intelligently among orange pekoe, oolong, Ceylon, and English-breakfast teas.

From Project Gutenberg

Tea gathered exclusively from buds and tips is called "flowery;" if the first young leaf be included, it is "orange pekoe."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• drink