Chap. XVI. MAKING GKEEN TEA. 



277 



In the mean time the roasting-pans have been heated 

 with a brisk wood fire. A portion of leaves are now 

 thrown into each pan and rapidly moved about and 

 shaken up with both hands. They are immediately 

 affected by the heat, begin to make a crackling noise, 

 and become quite moist and flaccid, while at the same 

 time they give out a considerable portion of vapour. 

 They remain in this state for four or five minutes, and 

 are then drawn quickly out and placed upon the rolling 

 table. 



The rolling process now commences. Several men 

 take their stations at the rolling table and divide the 

 leaves amongst them. Each takes as many as he can 

 press with his hands, and makes them up in the form 

 of a ball. This is rolled upon the rattan worked 

 table, and greatly compressed, the object being to get 

 rid of a portion of the sap and moisture, and at the 

 same time to twist the leaves. These balls of leaves 

 are frequently shaken out and passed from hand to 

 hand until they reach the head workman, who examines 

 them carefully to see if they have taken the requisite 

 twist. When he is satisfied of this the leaves are 

 removed from the rolling table and shaken out upon 

 flat trays, until the remaining portions have undergone 

 the same process. In no case are they allowed to 

 lie long in this state, and sometimes they are taken at 

 once to the roasting-pan. 



Having been thrown again into the pan, a slow and 

 steady charcoal fire is kept up, and the leaves are 

 kept in rapid motion by the hands of the workmen. 

 Sometimes they are thrown upon the rattan table 



