TVVANKAY TEA. 2d9 



are light, thin, and of no substance ; the infusion 

 weak and tasteless ; the colour red ; and the in- 

 fused leaves black. If very common and old, colour- 

 ing matter is then used ; and the tea is kept in the 

 **#*.-(■ The factitious colour is produced 

 by a mixture of Ma Ky Hoey J, Tien Hoa 

 (Indigo), and She Kao powder (calcined foliated 

 gypsum). The smallest quantity put into the Kuo 

 at one time is one or two tea-spoonfuls ; and the 

 largest three or four. The colour then changes to a 

 light blue.§ The fire must be made of charcoal, and 

 much attention paid to the roasting. Now, if the 

 chests be not in readiness, it is to be feared the 

 tea may be mixed with false leaves, the smell 

 thereby injured, and the tea rendered unhealthy. 

 But I must refer you to abler men than myself for 



f Here follows some obscure expression which has an allu- 

 sion to the mode practised by petty dealers mentioned before. 



| I am ignorant of the botanical name of this plant. 



§ The mode in which I have seen Twankay teas coloured 

 is as follows : — The gypsum was the foliated kind, calcined, and 

 reduced to a powder. It was then mixed in equal parts with 

 Chinese Indigo, also reduced to a powder. A common salt- 

 spoonful is enough to colour four lbs. ( three catties) of tea. 

 The colouring matter may be added at any time after the teas 

 are completely roasted and made. It is usually added in the 

 last process of roasting, whilst the tea is hot : but if the tea be 

 cold, it must then be roasted a few minutes till quite hot, when 

 the colouring matter is sprinkled over the leaves. The tea is 

 then briskly worked round the Kuo with the hand, and the 

 change of colour attentively watched, for the colour will be in- 

 jured if the tea be roasted too long. 



