Japan furnishes us with both colored and uncolored Green Tea and the former greatly out-balances the latter, indeed of late years they have been subjected to more adulteration than China teas. The Japans appear to be a long way behind in point of manipulation.
Black Teas. Oolongs are very highly dried, of wiry, brittle leaf, and valued according to degree of strength and pungency, and freedom from dust and are divided into three principal varie ties deriving their names from the district of growth, viz: For mosa, Foochow and Amoy. Though ranked in this country under the head of black tea it would be more correct to grade it as a medium between the uncolored green and the black teas of China and India. The liquor bears not a few resemblances to the former uncolored greens. Formosa and Foochow rank first, the latter as a rule possessing a little more flavor while all the common grades may be classed under the head of Amoy kind. The finest is free from stalk, fine twisted leaf and of delicate flavor and full strength.
There is a growing in the American taste toward the Formosa Oolong tea of fine flavor. It seems to be the most satisfactory article where fine taste is consulted. The aroma and flavor are vastly superior to our mind to any other kind of tea unless it be an early-picked Rose-leaf Japan ; but for body and strength it is far beyond any other kind. It is susceptible of reduction in strength to a larger degree than any other, without ruining the flavor. It is the only tea that gives a satisfactory second drawing.
Scented teas are divided principally under the two heads of Foochow and Canton. The former always being the highest scented, but as a rule draws a weak water. While those from Canton draw good deep liquor and are strongest and rough to the palate. They are principally consumed in the manufacturing districts of England. In all scented teas those are the best which possess an olive hue and the infused leaf of bright greenish color.
Scented Orange Pekoe is a long leaf tea well twisted some of. which is termed " Spider legged," from the length of its leaves The small leaf Orange Pekoe known as Ouchain kind draws a darker liquor than Foochow and in some cases is quite as deli cate in flavor.
,,S'eente(1 Caper. We give a full page illustration of the mode of manipulation of this tea, In appearance it is much like Gun powder, but black instead of green. In character it is similar to
Pekoe possessing however a slightly different flavor. Some years ago this tea w2.8 brought in great disrepute by the mode in which much of it was made. By collecting the dust of other teas and adding gum and steel filings to it they were able to make a pretty tea to all outward appearance by facing it with black lead. But of late years anything with facing on is rigidly excluded by all dealers who know anything of the trade.
Congou, Is really the black tea of China and is commonly called English Breakfast in this country, which in reality is a misnomer as all kinds of tea are sold in Great Britain, where in deed it is rarely sold straight, always being mixed or more cor rectly blended differently in different parts of the country in order to please the tastes and palates of the different sections. Blending tea in England has come to be considered one of the fine arts of the trade. Congou is broadly divided under the fol lowing heads : Moning, Kaisow, Souchong, and New Make. The first of these is again divided into Ning-Chow, Oopack, Oarfa and the quality ranging about in the order here named. The second Ching-Woo, Panyongs, Saryqunes. The Ning-Chow and Ching Woo, both Moning and Kaisow are the purest and finest teas ex ported from Chins. Souchong is a strong black tea. The leaves are large, rough and often broken. The infusion is clear golden and aromatic.
Java tea is very similar in character to some of the varieties grown in British India. With a little more care in the drying and manipulating of Java teas, the consumption must increase.
Tea Packing. A tea packing house after the busy season, says the Foochow Herald, presents a very different scene from that of two months before. Then, one found lines of fifteen-catty boxes waiting to be soldered up. Now, none. Next one found fat bags stacked up eight or ten feet high, bursting with Pehling tea that escaped here and there through holes temporarily stop ped with bamboo leaves ; the bottom of the bags mostly stained from contact with wet flights of mountain stairs upon which the exhausted coolie had set them down on the passage.