156 
TEA TREE. 
purified by the subsequent fermentation. Not- 
withstanding this uncleanly operation of Chinese 
packers, the upper ranks in China are as fond of 
tea as the people are, and particularly solicitous in 
their choice of it.” 
The different Kinds of Tea mentioned by the Chinese. 
Several kinds of tea are distinguished by the 
Chinese, all of which may be reduced to four prin- 
cipal varieties; viz. the Song-lo tcha, the Vou-y tcha, 
the Lou-ngan tcha , and the Pow-eul tcha. 
The name of the first is derived from the moun- 
tain Song-lo, situated in the province of Riang-nan. 
This mountain, which is described as far from ex- 
tensive, is entirely covered with the tea shrub, as 
well as the bottoms of several others in the neigh- 
bourhood. This is the kind which we call green 
tea. It is cultivated almost like the vine, and 
cropped when it arrives at a certain height, to pre- 
vent it from shooting beyond its strength. The 
Song-lo tcha , when carefully kept, will preserve its 
flavour for several years, and is used by the inhabi- 
tants of the country as an excellent remedy in vari- 
ous disorders. 
. The Vou-y tcha , however, is the kind of tea in 
most esteem throughout the Chinese empire. The 
best of this forms the Imperial tea, and is the same 
as that gathered in Japan for the sole use of the 
imperial family. The care which is taken to pre- 
serve this precious shrub, and to gather its leaves 
without injury, is thus noticed by Grosier: “ The 
