2SS 
THE tROPlCAL AGRICULTCrRtST. 
[Oct 1, 1902. 
ceseive operations, it is necessary to constantly 
observe tlie state of tfie weatlier and to take note 
of it. The heating in pots (a la marmite) is m.ade 
at two different times. In this operation the diffi- 
culty is to Ret the necesFary degree of heat. When 
out of the pots (marmite), the tea is dried at three 
different times in vases called " Poelan " s\itfa a 
fire carefully regulated. These are the diffe ent op- 
erations necessary to the temporary preparation of 
tea. It ia said that this piosess requires altogether 
7 h. 50 in Spring, 5 h. 54 in Summer, 7 h. 38 in 
Autumn, and 7 b. 13 in Winter. Whta is essential in 
the preparation of " Oolong tea" is to g Vi to it first. 
Ua perfume, then its flavour and colour which is seen 
when decocted. Its appearence, when dry, is a mat'.er 
of Lbj consideration. The prepaiatiou of" Oolong 
teil consists then :— 1. In a scrupulous care to be used 
in the softening and the deaica ion. 2 In a careful 
examination of the prepared tea which is obtained 
through the proper and correct tests which every 
tea-planter and cultivator possess. 
The ratio of the weight of the green leaf to that 
to which the preparation called " temporary " reduces 
it being 4 to 1, it follow? that a pla:i!atiou of 10,000 
square meters will pr'>duce 30J kilogrammes of tea 
of •' tempoinry preparation," if its yield in green leaf 
is 1,200 kilogrammes. The tea of "temponry pre- 
paration if its yield in green leaf ia 1200 kilogrammes. 
The tea of "temporary preparation" is called ''tsa 
in bag," because the producers carry the same and 
deliver it in bags of the cajacifcy cf abjut34 
kilogramtaes; 
. .').;.! Final PiiEPARATioN. 
The tea merchants of Toa-Ko-Ham buy from the 
cultivators the temporarily prepared tea which then 
undergoes a second and last process in the manner 
following: — The leaf is passed through a perforated 
framework, being then thrashed with a winnow 
called " Shokalei." In this manner only the finest 
leaf remains. This is then put for 7 or 8 hours iu 
an oven and warmed to the right temperature. 
This work finished, the tea is packed in cases. 
The second preparation reduces from 10 per cent 
to 15 per cent, the original quantity of tea whiah 
lias been so treated, and the tea cases are of a 
square shape, in wood, fitting exactly to a doubt 
case in tin. The wood used for the mannficture 
of the outside case reminds one of " Ctyptomeria," 
but it is harder and less elastic. Every year it is 
imported from Amoy. The dimensons of the cases 
are not uniform; some can contain £0 to 33 catties 
(27 to 44 lb.), others from 7i to 15 catties (10 h^io 
21* to lb). The large size ia called a " half-chest " 
and the small a ''box." Outside, all the cases are 
wrapped up with paper upon which are designed 
flowers, birds or personages, and which bear also 
the nanie oE the tea merchants. Tei, after its 
second process, is commonly called " tea in case." 
"Oolong tea "holds the mean between black and 
^green .tea, from which it ia distinguished by its 
.delicious perfume and agreeable flavour. It haa both 
refreshing and stimulating properties. It bears 
different marks which are generally used in the 
maJ'kets of Amoy and America as distinguishing the 
qualities : — 
1st. Choicest. I -5'.h. Superior. 
2nd. Choice. | 0 h. Good. 
3rd. Finest. 7th. Pair. 
4th. Fine. | 8ih. Common. 
Although known in China since the olden times, 
the method of preparation of '• Pawchong tea " w.vs 
introduced into Formost only 19 years ago. Its 
preparation consists of heaping up iu a closed room 
•'Oolong tea" mixed with fmgrant flowers which 
impart to it their perfums. This heap is then dried 
and the flowers are finally removed. Tea so prepared 
■yields a sweet taste and a peculiar smell. The 
iowers intended for this use are o£ four different 
Jtinda which give their name to ths tea which they 
perfume. Pawchong tea is wrapped up in separata 
paper packets and packed in a case whose parti- 
tions are covered with tin foil just as in the casa 
of Oolong tea. The outside is wrappad up with 
paper which bears a description o£ the contents, 
and the whole is covered with a bamboo mat. The 
cases are described as being of 1 nin (= 37 grammes 
and i of silver), of 2 nin or of 4 nin according to 
the quality of the merchandise tbey contain, although 
the capacity is equal to 20 catties (27 lbs.) for all 
the cases. 
The export trade of Formosa tea owed its sonrce 
to an attempt made by the Englishman J. Dodd, 
31 years ago, with 5,000 lb. of tea which he forwirded 
to Amoy, and from there to the United States 
through the English firm of Messrs Tait & Co. Prom 
that date this branch of commerce made very qirick 
progress. Formosa tea has surpaa-ed in repntation 
all similar products of the Far East imported into 
the American market. It has attained the first 
rank amongst the articles of commerce iu the Island, 
and its export has now reached the value of 6,000,000 
yen per annum. The United States of North 
America are the most important buyers of Oolong 
tea. Nine-ienths of the whole export of Formosa 
tea go to their markets. A small q lantity is ex- 
parted to Canada and to England. 
The cargoes intended for America come down the 
river Tamsni and arrive at the port of the .=ame name, 
where they are transhipped aboard steamers and sent 
to Amoy and ftom there to New Y< rlc via the Suez 
Canal. Eiglit or nine-tenths of Pawchong tea are 
forwarded to Java Borneo Suniatr.i and Australia : the 
remainder is sent to Anai>m Siam Singapore and to 
other parts of the Straits Settlements. The shipments 
intended for Australia go ria Amoy and those for 
Anuam and Singapore via Hongkong. 
Yeably CoiiPARATrvE Statement of Quamtitv and 
Value or " Oolono " Tea Exported 
Yeabs. Quastities. Value, Average 
Value by 
100 Cattles. 
Catties. 
1807 . . 
203,000 
1863 , . 
3:16,109 
1869 .. 
516,900 
1870 . . 
1,051,000 
1871 .. 
l,486,8(.i0 
1872 .. 
1,951,300 
Yen. 
Yen. 
1873 . . 
].. 560,900 
1874 .. 
2,461,000 
80S,369,.592 
32.817 
187.'-) ... 
4,157,300 
1,049,601,845 
25,247 
1876 . . 
5,890,.5'.0 
1877 .. 
6,y23.fi0i) 
1,904,655,76') 
17,512 
1S78 .. 
8 026,0 0 
2,283, 778,.598 
28,451 
1879 .. 
8,.5n3 200 
2,9.55,916,3f6 
31,762 
1880 . . 
9,047,500 
3 278,.'^21.480 
36 2 !7 
1881 .. 
6 941,600 
3 395 21(7.823 
35,203 
1882 .. 
9,030,300 
3,051,130,896 
40.4.32 
1883 .. 
9.905,000 
3.398,048.920 
3 1.306 
1881 ... 
9,867,400 
3,539,6.33,728 
35,872 
1885 .. 
12,273,000 
4,122,740,1C0 
33,592 
18S6 ... 
12,123 700 
5,060 109,475 
41,769 
1887 .. 
12 644,209 
4,995,065,921 
,39 504 
1888 . . 
13,574,100 
4,439,826,990 
32 631 
18ci9 . 
13,070,800 
4,366,901,996 
33,409 
1890 . . 
l%^ 62,900 
4,688,475,600 
36,449 
1891 .. 
13,57:^,300 
4,]2(;,891,200 
30,400 
1892 . . 
13,671,700 
4,443 ,364,870 
32,573 
1893 . . 
10,394.900 
6,167,761,380 
37,620 
1894 . . 
15,400,300 
6,114.719.700 
39,900 
1895 ... 
13,399,8 0 
5 991,171,210 
44,760 
1896 ... 
15,923,.500 
5 851,022,000 
S6,744 
1897 . . 
13,448.700 
6,458 850,000 
48,025 
1898 . . 
13,073.300 
5,690,842,000 
43,570 
