Ordinary Pekoe is of blackish or greyish-black aspect, dotted over with greyish or yellowish leaves possessing the downy appearance which gives the name to Pekoe. In general, the whole leaf is not covered with down, but only a part of it which has been developed late. These are called " Pekoe ends " when very small. Pekoe is generally of good to fine flavour, and very strong, and its liquor is dark. Its value is 2s. 9d.-3s. 8d. a lb.
The term Pekoe Sauchoug is generally applied to a Pekoe that is deficient in Pekoe ends, or to a bold Souchong leaf with a few ends mixed. It is often applied to an unasserted tea, including perhaps Souchong, Congou, LI few Pekoe ends, and some broken leafs. Prices average 2s. 3d. 2s. 10d. a lb.
Broken Pekoe is Pekoe which has been broken in manipulation or otherwise. It possesses the etrength and fine flavour of a full leaf of Pekoe, being therefore only inferior to it in point of leaf. In value, it is very little inferior to Pekoe, sometimes even superior, as the tender Pekoe ends are frequently broken off in large quantity, adding to the value of the broken tea, while deteriorating the Pekoe. Ordinary prices are 2s. 6d.-3s. 4d. a lb.
Pekoe Dust is broken so small as to resemble dust. It is of great strength, though often not pure in flavour, as frequently any dust or sweepings from other tea is mixed with it to make the lot larger. The price may range from ls. 6d. to 2s. 8d. a lb.
Souchoug may be taken as the medium quality, and, when experienoe and skilled labour are employed in the manufacture, as the bulk of the produce of an estate. The qualifications are an even, straight, or slightly cnrvecl leaf, Hi in. long. It has not the deep strength of Pekoe, but is genemlly of good flavour and fair strength. Prices are Is. 10d.-2s. 8d. a lb.
Oongou may be either a leaf of Sow:bong kind, but too large to come under that class, or a smallish-sized leaf, too unevenly made, or too much curled. Tbe flavour is much the same as that of Souohong, but the t,ea has less strength. Son3e of the lower and large-leaf kinds may be only worth ls. 3d.-1s. 6d., whereas finer qualities sell at 2s.-2s. 3d. a lb.
Bohea may be either of too large a leaf to be called Congou, or, as is generally the case, may consist piincipally of old leaf, which, on being fired, does not attain the g,reyish-black colour desirable in all black kinds except Flowery Pekoe, but remains of a brownish or pale-yellowish line. It has scarcely any strength, is generally of coarse flavour, and is never of much value
unless of Namuna kind. Prices are 3d.-1.s. 2d. a lb.
Broken Mixed Tea is a mixtdre of the various kinds broken, and may include some of the lower classes, or approach Broken Pekoe in character and value ; but it is usually worth ls. 8d.-2s. 6d. a lb., and of a blackish aspect, containing a few Pekoe ends.
Broken Souohong is a tea, which, though broken, has some approach to a full leaf of the even Sonchong oharacter. Value, Is. 6d.-2s. 2d. a lb.
Broken Leaf is a term of great comprehensiveness, but generally signifies a tea worth 8d. ls. Id. a lb., of brownish, brownish-black, or blackish colour. Its strength is seldom great ; its flavour may be fair or good, but in the lower qualities is generally poor, thin, or coarse.
Fannings is similar in colour and class to broken leaf ; in value it is also much the same, perhaps on the average a little lower.
Dust is very small broken tea. It is often very coarso or " earthy " in flavour, owing perhaps to sweepings and duet having become mixed with it. Its value is 6d.-18. 6d. In any worth more than these quotations, a fow Pekoe ends or tips will be found, bringing it under the name of Pekoe Dust.
Another class of tea possessing very great strength and very fine flavour is known as Namuna. Tbe leaf may have perhaps the ordinary groyish-black aspect, with generally a greenish tinge. In the pot, it produces Et very pale liquor, but its quality is stronger by far than ordinary Pekoe ; in flavour, it is ahout half way between Flowery Pekoe and a green tea, quite distinct from Flowery Pekoe, possessing somewhat of the rasping bitterness of the green-tea class with the flavour a little refined. The out-turn is generally green, sometimee with brownish leaves mixed. Any blaok tea may be of this class, from Pekoe to the lowest dust, and all, if the flavour be diatinct and pure, may have their value enhanced 4-10d. a lb.