Ol'servat'ions on Tea. 1 29 



Freed from it before the end of ten or twelve months ; it is 

 then pleasant and wholesome, and excites cheerfulness. 

 The Japanese never drink it fresh, ^^'ithont miAing with it 

 an equal quantity of old tea. It removes ol)>truetions, 

 assists digestion by rousing the action of the stomach ; and 

 there is no plant known of which people can drink an in- 

 fusion so frequenllv, and in such large quantity, without 

 disgust. The Chinese consider it as exceedingly salubrious. 

 'I'hcv never mix with it milk, syrup, or strong liquors. 

 They drink it pure, with a little sugar-candy which they 

 hold in their mouth ; and the habitual use which these 

 ptopk; have made of it for so many centuries, proves that 

 when well prepared it has no prejudicial qualities. They 

 form from it also an extract, which they use diluted in a 

 laroe quantity of water, and to which they ascriije great vir- 

 tues in various maladies. Kalm asserts that tea is of great 

 service in correcting the bad quality of water, that it revives 

 the strength, and tliat i^ was of much benclit to him during 

 his travels. 



In connnerce, tea is distinguished into eight principal 

 kinds; three of which are green tea, and five bohea : but I 

 shall here observe that the bohea tea of the shops is not the 

 same as that known under this name bv the Chinese. The 

 three kinds of green tea are: 1st, Imperial tea, or the 

 Jioivcrs of tea . Its leaves are not rolled : they arc of a bright 

 green colour, and have an agreeable odour. 2d, Haisvcti, or 

 /»;//.< $07/, which takes its namefro\n an Indian merchant who 

 first brought it to Europe. The leaves are small, ar-d strong- 

 ly roiled ; thev have a sireen colour inclining to blue. 

 'M\, Si/iglo, or songlo tea, which, like several other kinds, 

 is called after the name of the place where it is cultivated. 

 The five sorts of bohea tea connnonly known in commerce 

 are: 1st, Siirliong ; the leaves of which are broad, not rolled, 

 andof acolourineliningtovellow. It is imported intoRussia 

 by the caravans in packets of half a pound. 2d, Sumh tea, 

 which smells like violets, and the infusion of which is pale. 

 3d, Congo; the leaves of which are broad, and the infusion 

 high-coloured. 4th, /-'e^o tea, which is known by the small 

 white leaves mixed with it. 5tli, Bo/iea; the leaves of 

 which arc of a brownish green and uniform colour : a kind 

 ol' lea rolled up in balls of difi'erent sizes, the leaves of 

 which are united bv a glutinous sui)stance which does not 

 alter their (jualitv, is also brought irom China. There are 

 likewise balls of medicinal tea, composed of Icavea impreg- 

 nated with a decoction of rhubarb ; and there are several 

 other varieties which it is needless to mention. 



Tea was first introduced into Europe bv the DuIcIj. fft 

 Vol. 20. No. 78. AW. 1804. 1 1641, 



