LEA. 685 
poison ; which, though sometimes slow in its operation, yet never 
fails to produce fatal effects even on the strongest constitutions 
when the free use of it is continued for a considerable length of 
time.” For making a good cup of Tea, the water should always 
be fresh boiled, and used as soon as possible afterwards ; if the 
water has been boiling for some time, then the strength, and 
quality of the Tea will be impaired. 
Of the Teas now consumed in this country, the greater part 
by far come from British India, and Ceylon; the demand for 
China Tea is proved to have been greatly reduced during the last 
two or three years. Six pounds of Tea per head are computed 
to serve our community, and of this quantity only one-third of a 
pound of China Tea is included for each consumer. In America, 
and Russia (both being Tea-drinking countries) only a little over 
one pound a head is used yearly, and in other European countries 
it is but a fraction of a pound per head. We therefore drink 
more than the United States, and all European countries put 
together. Besides taking fresh lemon with their Tea, the 
Russians have a fashion of mixing jam with it, half and half, 
(to say nothing of their taking beet soup served with thick, sour 
cream ; or, again, roast duck with pickled cherries). In Spain, 
where Tea is made commonly for drinking, a leaf of the lemon 
verbena plant is placed in each cup, and the hot Tea is poured 
upon it. Some of the rustics in China add ginger and salt to 
their Tea. The French celebrity, Balzac, used to drink a Tea of 
unique quality, and fabulous value, which he reserved for special 
occasions, and special friends. This Tea had a history : it was 
gathered by young and beautiful virgins, chosen for the purpose, 
who had to pick the leaves before sunrise, and then to carry 
them, with singing, to the Chinese Emperor. Balzac received some 
of the same precious leaf through a well-known Russian Minister. 
There was a superstition attached to it that more than one cup 
of this almost sacred liquid was a desecration, and would cost 
the drinker the loss of his eyesight. One of Balzac’s chief 
friends, Laurent Jan, never drank it without remarking appre- 
hensively, “ Once again I risk an eye, but it’s worth it.” 
- Of the Indian and Ceylon Tea, the young shoot at the top of 
the plant produces the finest Tea,—“ flowery, and orange Pekoe,” 
—from its juicy leaves ; or, if these are still smaller, the * broken 
Pekoe.” The Tea from the somewhat larger leaves next belowis 
“ Pekoe”; the next largest again below make “Souchong”; the _ 
