| Whole |
WH |
Intact |
Entire seeds, roots, leaves, or fruits. Longest shelf life, maximum volatile oils preserved. |
Herbalists, spice grinding, long storage. |
| Flakes |
FL |
4–6 mm (slightly larger than C/S) |
Thin, irregular pieces, often from leaves or peels. |
Culinary blends, herbal teas, toppings. |
| Cut & Sifted |
C/S |
2–4 mm |
Standard bulk cut. Chopped and screened to remove dust and fines. |
Loose-leaf teas, infusions, decoctions. |
| Tea Bag Cut |
TBC |
~1 mm |
Small, uniform pieces designed for efficient brewing in filter paper. Interchangeable with granulated in sizing, but usually refers to leafy material. |
Commercial teabags, fast infusions. |
| Granulated |
GR |
~1 mm (like coarse sand) |
Very small, consistent pieces. Same size as TBC, but usually refers to hard dried materials such as chicory, burdock, dandelion, onion, or garlic. |
Food manufacturing, herbal blends, teas. |
| Rubbed |
RB |
<1 mm, slightly coarser than powder |
Produced by rubbing dried leaves or herbs through a screen, yielding a fluffy, flower-like consistency. |
Culinary seasonings, spice blends, herbal applications. |
| Powder |
PD |
Much less than 0.5 mm (flour-like) |
Ultra-fine grind, disperses instantly in liquids, shortest shelf life. |
Capsules, drink mixes, instant blends |
