162 PEKOE. SINGLO. -HYSON. 
of these, only the best and youngest are taken. The 
others make congos of different kinds, and bohea. 
(d) Pekoe is distinguished by having the small white 
flowers of the tree intermixed with it. This, which is 
chiefly consumed in Sweden. and Denmark, is usually 
made from the tenderest leaves of trees three years old, 
gathered just after they have been in bloom, when the 
small leaves that grow between the first two that have 
appeared, and which altogether make a sprig, are white, 
and resemble young hair or down. 
Green Teas. 
It has been asserted that green teas are indebted for 
their qualities and colour to a process of drying them 
upon plates of copper* This is certainly incorrect. 
The leaves for green tea are gathered, and immediately 
roasted, or tacked, as it is called, upon cast-iron plates, 
and then are very much rubbed betwixt men's hands, to 
roll them. They are afterwards spread out and separated, 
as the leaves in rolling are apt to adhere to each other : 
and are again placed over the fire, and made very dry. 
After this they are picked, cleansed from dust, several 
times tached or roasted, and finally put hot into the 
chests in which they are to be packed. 
The principal kinds of green tea are singlo, hyson, 
and gunpowder. 
(a) Singlo, or Song-lo, is so named from the place 
where it is chiefly cultivated. Of this tea there are 
three or more sorts ; but the leaves of the best are large, 
fine, flat, and clean. It is gathered at two seasons, the 
first in April, and the second in June. As we see it, 
the leaf is flattish, and yields, on infusion, a pale amber- 
coloured liquor. 
(b) Hyson, or Hee-chun, has its name from that of an 
Indian merchant who first sold this tea to the Europe- 
ans. There are two gatherings of hyson. It should 
have a fine blooming appearance, be of a full-sized 
grain, very dry, and so crisp that, with slight pressure, 
