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The World's Commercial Products 





PRUNING TEA IN CEYLON 



to ascertain whether the information they communicate be true or false." It was thus defi- 

 nitely proved that the differences in the teas reaching this country were not due to specific 

 •differences in the tea plants, but were produced as a result of differences in methods of 

 manufacture. 



TEA IN JAPAN 



The success which has attended the efforts of Indian and Ceylon planters to oust China 

 teas-from some of the most important of the world's markets is one of the most striking facts 

 in the history of the tea trade. Up to the present, however, the British planter has made 

 comparatively little impression upon the volume of the Japanese export trade in tea, and 

 in the United States and Canada the product of Japan holds a position which appears to be 

 very secure, while certain grades have earned a reputation which cannot readily be shaken. 

 Within recent years considerable attention has been paid by British growers to the Japanese 

 tea industry, and several reports have been issued as a result of investigations carried out 

 on the spot. Japanese teas may be divided into four classes : (1) Hikacha or Yencha, a 

 powdered tea of high quality used only on ceremonial occasions ; (2) Green tea, subdivided 

 / into Gyokuro (" pearly dew "), and Sencha, the latter being inferior to Gyokuro in quality, 

 \ but constituting the bulk of the tea drunk by the people ; (3) Bancha, consisting of the pre- 

 vious war's Leaves mixed with withered stalks and chopped twigs; (4) Oolong and Black 

 tea.,- With regard to the Black teas j it is interesting to note, that comparatively little is 

 produced in Japan,, since for some, reason not sufficiently understood, but probably due to 

 imperfect methods, the native leaf does not undergo the fermentation processes successfully, 

 and poor results generally attend the efforts made to obtain a good black tea. The Oolong 

 varieties have the colour and appearance of black tea but possess the flavour of green tea. 

 Japan proper produces, very little Oolong, but large quantities are shipped from Formosa. 



The teas most interesting to the British planter, however, are the Gyokuro and Sencha 

 green teas, for these are the grades exported to the American continent, where green teas 

 have a great hold upon the popular, taste. They further form the bulk of tea consumed by 

 he Japanese themselves. , 



e Japanese tea-planter prefers the lower slopes of the hills for setting out his bushes, 

 although, providing that the drainage is satisfactory, successful plantations can be laid 



