COLOUR OF HYSON NOT FACTITIOUS. 221 



Thus it is obvious that the peculiar colour of 

 green tea does not properly arise from the admix- 

 ture of colouring matter with the leaves, but na- 

 turally out of the process of manipulation. Indeed, 

 if we reflect a little, it must be evident, as before 

 observed, that it was quite impossible that Eu- 

 ropeans could suggest to the Chinese to colour 

 their teas blue. There must have been some 

 foundation for this practice originating with the 

 Chinese themselves. As a close twist and curl of 

 the leaf is one test of superior quality, so also is 

 brightness of colour. The factitious colouring, 

 then, of green teas has originated with the Chinese 

 to give a spurious superiority to inferior teas : 

 and it must be acknowledged that foreigners have 

 been too easily duped by these deceptions. It 

 would be wiser to appreciate strength and flavour 

 more, and colour less. It has been shown that 

 the Hoa-king, a Chinese herbal published in 1688, 

 speaks of Singlo tea being of a bluish green 

 colour. Again, Mr. Jacobson *, in describing the 

 change of colour which takes place during the 

 process of roasting, states: — " Now the colour 

 becomes greener and brighter ; but, properly speak- 

 ing, the infused leaf only is green, the dry leaf is 

 bluish. As the drying progresses, the leaves assume 

 a light blue tinge, resembling the bloom of grapes." 

 But we shall furnish proof of this fact a little later. 

 The factors say that the true colour is not thrown 



* Haudboek, § 456. 



