ROYAL GARDENS, KEw. 

BULLETIN pm 
OF 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

No. 70.] OCTOBER. [1892. 

CCLXVI.—LAO TEA. 
(Camellia theifera, Griff.) 
Recently a riega meghod of using the leaves of what has since 
me proved to be the As tea plant of commerce (Camellia thei- 
t Mason 
Mr. Ern 
Satow, C.M.G. Amongst the Laos, a people inhabiting a digiriot of 
Siam, in the neighbourhood of Chiengimai, the tea leaves are not us 
for making an infusion as in other countries, but are prepared wholly 
for the purpose of chewing. The leaves are first steamed and then tied 
up in bundles and buried in the ground for a eriod of about 15 days. 
Leaves thus prepared, called locally “mieng,” are said to keep for two 
years or more. The habit of chewing “mien ni 
among the Laos, sod to men engaged in hard work, such as poling or 
rowing, it is said to be almost indispensable.. The result of an inquiry 
made by Kew in regard to the plant yielding “ mieng” and the method of 
preparation is detailed in the following correspondence :— 
ROYAL GampENs, Krew, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
Sm, Royal Gardens, Kew, 8th February 1892. 
M desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you that his 
attention oe been called to an interesting paper on “ The Laos S 
Upper Siam," recently read before the Society of Arts by Mr. Ernest 
Mason Satow, C.M.G., late Minister Resident and Consul-General at 
Bangkok. 
2. In the course of this paper, as shown in the extract enclosed, 
Mr. Satow god attention to the use of “mieng” or Lao tea. It 
appears that the Laos do not drink the infusion of this tea, but prepare 
the leaf for chewing by burying it in pits. It is said to be one of their 
indispensable 
3. It is not ly established that this Lao tea is identical with that 
obtained from the true tea plant. In any case, the particular way in 
which it is used is certainly singular, and the subject deserves to be 
more fully investigated. 
Mr. Thiselton-Dyer would PISO be glad to obtain through - 
kiod offices of the Secretary of State specimens of the leaves and flowers. 
U 73588.  1250.—10/92. wc 38. E.&S. å 
