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Where does the word "pekoe" come from? It comes from Chinese pak-ho, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).
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Where does the word "pekoe" come from? It comes from Chinese pak-ho, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).
Pekoe’s story begins in Chinese: pak-ho meant “white down, fine hair.” Literally white down, describing the fine hairs on young tea leaves. It reached English by 1700s as pekoe. Chinese 'white down', from the fine hairs on young tea buds. Today, pekoe means a grade of black tea made from small young leaves.
- Stage 1 · Chinese · 1700s pak-ho "white down, fine hair", literally white down, describing the fine hairs on young tea leaves.
- Stage 2 · English · 1700s pekoe "a grade of black tea made from young leaves", Chinese 'white down', from the fine hairs on young tea buds.