TEA. 379 



The names whereby some of the principal sorts of 

 tea are known in China, are taken from the places in 

 which they are produced, while others are distinguish- 

 ed according to the periods of their gathering, the 

 manner employed in curing, or other extrinsic circum- 

 stances. 



Bohea, of which description there are five kinds, 

 takes its name from the mountain of Vou-yee, which 

 is covered with tea plantations. The earliest gather- 

 ings, in this district, is culled Souchong, the Chinese 

 name for which is Saatyang ; and Pekoe, called by 

 the cultivators back-ho, or pack-ho ; Congou, Kong- 

 fou, and other commoner kinds of Bohea-tea, are 

 made from the leaves when in a state of greater 

 maturity. Padre-Souchong, or Pao-sut-lcha, is gath- 

 ered in the province where the best green tea is 

 produced. This kind is esteemed on account of some 

 medicinal virtues which it is supposed to possess. 



There are three kinds of green tea, of which one 

 called hyson, hayssuen, is composed of leaves very 

 carefully picked, and dried with a less degree of heat 

 than others ; it is one fourth dearer than souchong. 

 The kind of green tea which is most abundant is 

 called Singlo, which is the name of a mountain on 

 which it grows, about one hundred and fifty miles 

 to the eouthward of Nan-king. Gunpowder tea is 

 made of tender green leaves, which yet have attained 

 a considerable size. This kind is sometimes rolled 

 into balls by hand, and is very highly esteemed ; it 

 sells for fifteen per cent more than hyson. It is 

 a commonly received opinion, that the distinctive 

 colour of green tea is imparted to it by sheets of 

 copper, upon which it is dried. For this belief there 

 is not, however, the smallest foundation in fact, 

 since copper is never used for the purpose. Re- 

 peated experiments have been made to discover, by 



