( ee} 
SOC T1-0 N > 1X. 
‘DRINKING OF -TEA. 
Nerruer the Chinefe, nor natives of Japan, ever ufe Tea 
before it has been kept. at leaft a year; becaufe when frefh it is 
faid to prove narcotic, and to diforder the fenfes'. The 
former pour hot water on the Tea, and draw off the infufion 
in the fame manner as is now practifed in Europe; but 
they drink it fimply without the addition of fugar or milk’. 
- The Japanefe reduce the Tea into a fine powder, by grinding 
‘ 
the leaves in a hand-mill; they then mix them with hot water 
intoa thin pulp, in which form it is fipped?®, particularly by the © 
nobility and rich people. It is made and ferved up to com- 
-pany in the following manner: the Tea-table furniture, with 
the powdered Tea inclofed in a box, are fet before the com- 
pany, and the cups are then filled with hot water, and as much 
of the powder as might lie on the point of a moderate-fized 
knife is taken out of the box, put into each cup, and then 
= fhered and mixed together with a curious denticulated eeu 3 
eat eae. Ameenit. Exot. p. 625.° Hiftory of Japan, Vol. II. App. p- to. 16. 
* Ofbeck’s Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 299. 
* This i is called hie that is, thick Tea, to diftinguish it from that made i 
: infuf le 
ment 
