Broken, Leaf (Ghalam) and Pyramid Tea: What's the Difference?

Iranian tea is usually known simply as "black tea" or "green tea" — but within each of those families there are grades that directly shape colour, flavour and how quickly the tea brews. The three terms you'll see most often on Iranian tea packaging are "broken", "leaf" (ghalam) and "pyramid" — and each has a specific meaning.

Leaf (Ghalam) Tea

Leaf tea (ghalam) refers to larger, whole, less-broken leaves that have kept much of their original shape through processing. That intact leaf means the brew develops a little more slowly, the colour opens up gradually, and the final taste is gentler and more delicate. Leaf tea is usually the choice for anyone who has more time to brew and wants a softer cup — Sehreh's Premium Ghalam Black Tea is exactly that.

Broken Tea

Broken tea, as the name suggests, is made from smaller, broken leaf pieces — either picked smaller to begin with, or broken during processing. The greater surface area in contact with water releases colour and flavour much faster, giving a darker, stronger cup in less time. That's why broken tea is the common choice for a strong, everyday brew; Sehreh's Premium Broken Black Tea is one such option.

Pyramid Tea

Pyramid tea, unlike the two above, isn't about leaf size at all — it's about the packaging. Tea leaf of any grade is packed into a pyramid-shaped sachet with more internal room than a flat teabag. That extra space lets the leaf unfurl more freely in the water, closer to a proper teapot brew. Pyramid tea is built for a quick, single-cup brew, and Sehreh offers it both plain and flavoured — like Sehreh's Saffron Pyramid Tea.

In practice, these three ideas can combine: you can find leaf tea in a pyramid sachet, or bulk broken tea for the teapot. The right choice comes down to how much time you have to brew and how strong you like your cup.

At a glance:

• Leaf (ghalam): large, whole leaves, a slower brew, a gentle and delicate taste
• Broken: smaller leaf pieces, a fast brew, a dark and strong taste
• Pyramid: a packaging format, not a leaf type, built for a quick single-cup brew

Fortunately, Sehreh's gardens grow all three grades of authentic Iranian tea.