12 
“LEPPETT” TEA. 
No. 49, 5 ~ 10, dated Rangoon, the 4th July 1894, from C. G. 
Bayne, Esq., I ., 1.C.S., Revenue Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of 
Burma, to the ad ecretary to the Government of India, Department of 
Revenue and Agricu 
. In continuation of this office letter No. 120, 5 A. 10, dated the 7th May 
1894, I am directed to submit, for transmission to Her Majesty’s Secretary 
of State for India, seven packets containing samples of the ** Leppett ” 
tea of Burma. Four packets contain * wet Leppett" and three packets 
d A 
= Leppett.” Two specimens of the plant are also submit 
copy of a ae by Mr. W. A. Graham containing information regarding 
the tea is enclosed, 
INFORMATION regarding the * LEPPETT" Tra of Burma, by 
Mr. W. A. 
GRAHAM. 
Shan States. This Bite is sit md "m to the cultivation of the 
tea tree, and the inhabitants one and all, including the Sawbwa himself, 
trade in the commodity. 
2. The gardens are situated on the hill- ee which, in this neigh- 
bourhood, are very steep. The trees continue to yield crops of leaves 
suitable for the market until the ey reach m didis and a height some 
60 feet, but the best article is obtained from the young shrubs, of which 
the gardens chiefly consist. Two crops of tea are secured each year, 
one in May and one in July, only the young and tender leaves being 
taken. The leaves, while still green, are boiled in large narrow-necked 
0 
ea e pots, a 
top made of plantain leaves is placed over it and earth is piled above it, 
big stones and other hea = weights veis finally placed on the to 
3. The tea i ed and e 
. but are covered in with stri amboo, so arranged as to serve the 
purpose of a lid in being kintigh, and at the same time to admit the 
insertion of a wedge, the pressure of which prevents fermentation from 
Every day the wedges are hammered in a little further, so 
that although the tea dries in the baskets and shrinks, a constant 
aped is kept u 
. The price of the tea at the gardens ranges from Rs. 15 to Rs. 25 
Se 100 viss.* When sold " the brokers in Mandalay it fetehes from 
Rs. 60 to Rs. 100, or even to Rs. 140 per 100 viss. he tea loses . 
stream, by which nipis poetic the article is made to pedes its lost 
pness, and weighs as much as it did when purchased. In Upper 
nin sud d the Shan States a good deal of this tea is consumed asa 
* Viss or piakthah = 3-6 6 lbs. av. 
