94 CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION. 



are offered for sale. It is also a noticeable fact that 

 certain waters serve to bring out these peculiarities 

 more prominently than others, American waters in 

 particular. 



OTHER CHINESE VARIETIES. 



Besides these numerous ordinary teas of commerce, 

 there are several other varieties cultivated in China, but 

 principally for home consumption and rarely if ever 

 exported, among which may be mentioned : 



Suen-cha Or " Sweet tea," made from the leaves of 

 a slender shrub growing in the western province of Sze- 

 chuan, and peculiar only to that section. The leaf is 

 large, thick and odorless in the green or natural state, 

 but when cured exhales a rare and peculiar odor, and 

 possesses a sweet, liquorice-like taste in the infusion, not 

 altogether pleasant. 



Peh-Yuen-cha Or "White cloud tea," prepared 

 from another rare species of the tea shrub found near the 

 summit of Mount Ombei in the same province and most 

 dissimilar in character and flavor from that of the regular 

 teas of commerce. It yields an aromatic infusion, 

 peculiar but palatable, and is chiefly used by pilgrims and 

 travelers in that country. 



Mandarin Tea Is still another rare variety, seldom 

 if ever exported, its use being confined to the Mandarins 

 and aristocracy of China. The leaf is exceeding small, 

 dark, crisp and tender, lightly fired and highly scented > 

 commanding as high as fifteen dollars per pound in the 

 home market. 



Brick Tea Is composed of the old leaves, stems, 

 siftings and sweepings of the Chinese tea hongs, ground 

 fine, moistened and compressed into shapes somewhat 

 larger than regular building bricks. It has nothing to 

 recommend it as a tea, being sold chiefly to the Mongols, 



