504, ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [China. 



SuFEiiiott Hyson Skin. — This is a distinction made in the tea-trade, to 

 divide the common Hyson Skin and the Hyson. This is said to be Hyson 

 tea a year or more old, which, after undergoing the process of tatching 

 repeatedly, is brought to market a second time; its appearance is much 

 darker than Hyson, with less bloom on it. Its smell is somewhat musty, 

 and the taste has more of that brassy flavour peculiar to green teas, without 

 any of the delicate aromatic taste of good Hyson ; on infusion, the water is 

 darker coloured, and with less fragrance than Hyson. 



Hyson, or He-lchune, the name of the first crop of this tea. There are 

 two gatherings of it, and each gathering is distinguished into two or more 

 sorts ; but as great care is taken in gathering it, 60 catties may be chosen 

 from a pecul of it, when only 45 catties can be chosen from Singlo. 



Hyson tea should be chosen of a full sized grain, of a fine blooming 

 appearance, very dry, and so crisp, that with a slight pressure it will crumble 

 to dust: when infused in water, the leaf should open clear and smooth, 

 without being broken, or appearing shrivelled, (which is one of the indica- 

 tions of old tea). It should give the water a light green tinge ; the water 

 should also have an aromatic smell, with a strong pungent taste. Those 

 leaves which appear of a dead yellowish green, or give the water a similar 

 tinge, or rather a brownish hue, should be rejected ; likewise that which 

 appears highly glazed, which occasions it to yield a darker colour to water. 



Gunpowder is a superior kind of Hyson. This tea should be chosen 

 round, resembling small shot, with a beautiful bloom upon it, which will not 

 bear the breath; it should appear of a greenish hue, with a fragrant pungent 

 taste. The chest of gunpowder, which is of the same dimensions as that of 

 Hyson, should weigh from 75 to 80 catties ; and the heavier it weighs, the 

 better the tea is considered. Gunpowder tea is sometimes adulterated ; an 

 inferior kind of tea is dyed and glazed, to bear the appearance of the finest 

 tea, but which, on infusion, is very inferior in every respect. This should 

 be carefully avoided, likewise that of which the leaf is open and loose, 

 the face of a darker hue or bloom, and that has a brassy unpleasant 

 taste. 



Cirui.AN Hyson is a peculiar kind of Hyson-leaf, having the hemes of 

 a small plant, called by the Chinese Chulan, mixed with it, which gives it 

 the cowslip flavour, on which account it is sometimes called cowslip tea. It 

 should be chosen of a yellow i si i leaf, a fragrant and perfumed smell, and 

 when infused in water, of a strong cowslip ilavour. This tea is seldom im- 

 ported but as presents. 



Ball Tea is so called from the form into which it is made, being round 



