767 



and are in every respect superior to the ordinary tea — than which they 

 command a much higher price. The quantities exhibited in these 

 boxes are too small, and have consequently lost much of their flavour 

 during the voyage and subsequent exposure. 



The gray flowery pekoe is the best sample exhibited ; in appear- 

 ance and flower it cannot be surpassed by any China tea, but is rather 

 wiiy in the leaf, from the buds having been gathered too young; 

 whence, perhaps, also its deficiency of flavour. It is of a much 

 higher class than that of Kemaon and Java, and would command a 

 high price in the English market. A Prize Medal is awarded to it. 



Brick Tea of Tibet. — A sample of this curious product is exhibited 

 by the Honourable East India Company. It is formed of the refuse 

 tea-leaves, and sweepings of the granaries, damped, and pressed into 

 a mould, generally with a little bullock's blood. The finer sorts are 

 friable masses, and are packed in paper ; the coarser, as this, sewn up 

 in sheep-skin. In this form it is an article of commerce throughout 

 Central and Northern Asia, and the Himalayan provinces ; and is con- 

 sumed by Mongols, Tartars, and Tibetans, churned with milk, salt, 

 butter, and boiling-water, more as a soup than as tea proper. Cer- 

 tain quantities are forced upon the acceptance of the western tribu- 

 taries of the Chinese empire, in payment for the support of troops, 

 &c. ; and is, hence, from its convenient size and form, brought into 

 circulation as a coin, over an area greater than that of Europe. 



Assam Tea. — Sent by the Assam Company, and exhibited in the 

 British Department. This collection is contained in twelve chests ; 

 it is admirable, and in perfect ordei*. As the indigenous plant has 

 been manufactured in Assam, and the China plant has also been intro- 

 duced and cultivated for the purpose, the exhibitors have judiciously 

 sent samples of the different kinds of tea from each ; thus enabling 

 the Jury to establish the superiority of the introduced Chinese plant, 

 over the indigenous (or native Assam), for the manufacture. There is 

 a decided advantage in point of flavour possessed by the Chinese leaf, 

 though the manipulation appears perfectly equal in both. A Prize 

 Medal has been awarded to the Assam Company, for this valuable 

 collection of admirably-prepared teas. ^ 



Substitutes for Tea. 



Of these, the Exhibition contains hardly any examples. One spe- 

 cimen of mate or " Paraguay tea " {Ilex Paragiiayensis) is exhibited 

 as a curiosity. This beverage is in universal use throughout Brazil, 

 Uraguay, Paraguay, the Plate district, Chili, and Peru. 



