TOO LOW. 261 



centration of heat is less important. It is singular 

 that Kcempfer, so accurate in his description of the 

 manipulation of green tea at Japan, mistook the 

 Twankay roasting vessel used there for a flat iron 

 pan. The fact is, that when the vessel is fitted into 

 the stove in a slanting position, as it is used for the 

 manipulation of Twankay tea, it certainly resembles 

 and might easily be mistaken for, a flat piece of iron 

 turned up at the end. This is Koempfer's descrip- 

 tion of the vessel which he saw used at Japan. It 

 may be seen, however, by the drawing given by Yon 

 Siebold in his account of Japan, that the vessel and 

 inclination of the stove correspond with those adopted 

 for Twankay tea in the green tea districts in China. 



With respect to handling leaves exposed to so 

 high a temperature, it may be observed, that the 

 leaves do not attain a higher temperature than the 

 hands of workmen accustomed to this occupation 

 can bear; and the quantity put into the vessel 

 at one time is sufficient, under due management, 

 to prevent any contact between the heated vessel 

 and the hands, though the intense heat which from 

 habit these men can endure is certainly surprising. 



In the second and third processes of roasting, 

 charcoal is used instead of wood ; and the heat is 

 lowered as the leaves part with their moisture, but 

 a high temperature is still maintained so long as 

 any juices can be expressed in the act of rolling, 

 say from 220 to 250 degrees. Thus far the means 

 and temperature used are essentially the same for 



s 3 



