EXPOSURE TO SUN. 107 



the leaves, or on the kind or quality of tea required 

 to be made. 



The Chinese seem to agree that the finest Sou- 

 chongs, the Yen or Padre Souchongs, or Pao- 

 chongs, when made under favourable circumstances, 

 'would be injured by any exposure of the leaves to 

 the sun. But it must be remembered that these 

 teas are made from the finest shrubs, the young 

 leaves of which are described as being large, and of 

 great succulency, as well as extreme delicacy. 

 They are also gathered after a succession of bright 

 weather; and the best kinds during the greatest 

 heat of the day. That change, therefore, which is 

 necessary to be produced previously to the process 

 of Leang Ching, by exposing the leaves to the sun, 

 during which they " wither and give *," and be- 

 come soft and flaccid, may so far take place before 

 and after the gathering as to render a simple ex- 

 posure to the air sufficient. Indeed this exposure 

 to the shade and air may be necessary to check or 

 prevent fermentation, or some unfavourable change 

 which they might otherwise undergo. 



On the other hand, leaves which are gathered from 

 shrubs of inferior delicacy, and are somewhat harsh 

 and fibrous in their texture, may be greatly im- 

 proved by exposure to the sun, especially if any 

 chemical change be sought. At any rate that state 

 of flaccidity which is desirable must be greatly ac- 



* Pigou, Oriental Repertory, vol. ii. p. 288. 



