766 



England. Among the most important curiosities in the collection 

 are the counterfeit teas of Canton. These are made of any refuse, 

 such as moistened tea-leaves from the pot, beat up with gum and rice- 

 water in a mortar, coloured with Prussian-blue and gypsum, and 

 curled, twisted, or granulated so ingeniously as to counterfeit the most 

 costly varieties. The gunpowder and scented caper are over-done, the 

 appearance of the counterfeit being more equal and beautiful than the 

 genuine teas ever are. 



Various curious teas used by the labouring classes of Chinese are 

 exhibited ; some are merely coarse, and bad, sun-dried leaves ; better 

 qualities, chiefly from Ankoy, are put up in baskets and boxes, and 

 exported to the Islands of Java, &c. Curiously rolled and twisted 

 samples, such as the " old man's eyebrows," " ball tea," and other 

 fancy manufactures, are all illustrated. Medicine teas follow these in 

 the series, and consist of cakes, lozenges, &c., made of leaves mixed 

 with various drugs, herbs, liquorice and sweetmeats. 



Lastly, there are specimens of the plant itself, leaf, flower, and bud ; 

 models and drawings to illustrate the processes employed in its manu- 

 facture, packing, and shipment ; samples of the materials used for 

 scenting ; tea-pots, cups, &c. 



Another collection of merit is that of W. P. Hammond and Co., 

 which has also been awarded a Prize Medal. This contains, in 40 

 boxes, the various teas more or less abundantly imported into Eng- 

 land ; and is further illustrated by good paintings of the processes 

 employed in the culture, husbanding, and manufacture, 



Java Teas. — Exhibited by the Singapore Committee of the Ho- 

 nourable East India Company. These teas are good of their kind, 

 but not equal iu flavour to the Chinese, or even to the Kemaon. In 

 respect of flavour they resemble the Assam, but are inferior in strength. 



Kemaon Teas. — Exhibited by the Honourable East India Com- 

 pany — are not very fully represented. In flavour, these rank next to 

 the Chinese teas ; and, as a class, have rather the Ankoy flavour ; 

 being better adapted for green tea than black. The manufixcture is 

 much improved of late. Three samples are exhibited ; imperial hy- 

 son, young hyson, and souchong ; for the two latter of which a Prize 

 Medal has been awarded. 



Assam Teas. — Eight boxes are exhibited by the Honourable East 

 India Company — all full of well-made, strong teas, superior in this 

 respect to the Chinese ; but much inferior in flavour, roasting, and 

 scent. In point of manipulation they equal the Chinese. For mixing 

 with the Chinese article they find a ready sale iu the English market; 



