China. J 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



503 



contract any moisture; so that if the seller is obliged to keep his tea any- 

 time, especially in damp weather, he must tatch it, to give it a crispness, 

 before he can sell it. 



It is a common opinion that the verdure on green teas is occasioned by 

 their being dried on copper; but it does not appear, from experiments which 

 have been made, that there is any foundation for it. 



The trade in London divide green teas into the following sorts : — 



Singlo. — There are two gatherings of Singlo tea, the first in April and 

 May, the second in June ; each gathering is divided into three or more sorts. 

 The leaves of the first are large, fine, flat, and clean ; of this sort there may 

 be collected from a pecu), from 40 to 55 catties, usually 45 ; the second sort 

 is picked next, and what then remains, is the third or worst sort. 



Singlo tea is seldom imported by individuals. It is of a flattish leaf. 

 It should be chosen of a fresh strong flavour ; it is of a light green colour 

 when chewed, and on infusion, should yield a pale amber colour, and none 

 of the leaves turn brown or dark coloured; it should feel crisp and 

 brittle. That which Is yellow, of a large loose leaf, and dusty, should 

 be rejected. 



T wan kay j or Tunkey, fa a superior kind of Singlo. It grows near the 

 Hyson country, and is oftener tatched and picked than the common Singlo. 

 Twankay, like other Singlo tea, is made into two or three sorts ; the best is 

 sometimes sold for Hyson of an inferior growth. It should be chosen with 

 the leaves well twisted or curled ; it ought also to have a burnt smell, not 

 too strong, but pleasant, and on infusion, yield a paler colour than Singlo. 

 That which is yellow, and the smell inclining to that of sulphur, should 

 be rejected. 



This tea is only imported by the Company, and there are no particular 

 chops of a superior kind. 



Hyson Skin, or Bloom Tea, has its name from being compared to the 

 skin or peel of the Hyson tea, a sort of cover to it, consequently not so good. 

 It consists of the largest, unhandsome, bad coloured, and uncurled leaves that 

 are picked out from the Hyson tea. 



Hyson Skin is a superior kind of green tea, of a round, knobby, bright- 

 ish leaf; but great part of what is imported, is of an inferior quality, of a 

 yellowish open leaf, somewhat resembling Singlo, and in consequence varies 

 greatly in price. It should be chosen of a fresh smell, on infusion yield 

 a pale yellowish green colour, and of a delicate taste, though somewhat 

 of a burnt llavour : the more it approaches to Hyson, the more it is 

 esteemed. 



