The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-16
A Chapter ON Tea.

AT the present moment, when, from the exposures
OF the London Lancet. and from the accounts of the
experiments made by the East India Company in
the Himalayah mountains the cultivation and
Adulteration of tea attracting much attention,
ut may not be unnteresting or Improbable to d.
rect public notice to the very fine and remarkable
varieties of that plant exhibited by Mr.. Philip Will
liam Ripley, of Canton, in the Chinese com7art-
ment of the Exhibition. MIR. Ripley's collection is
classified into less than six different beads-viz.,
teas from the Fokein hills, Nukoi teas, Canton
made teas. Nankin teas, Present teas, and Physic
teas, large proportion of the specimens included
IN which are, strange to cay, unknown in the Eng
lish markets. The teas from the Fokein hills
'Congou, Souchong, Pouchong, Oolong, at 2ls. per
h.; blackleaf Pekoe Ming Yong or Koken, and
FlowSry Pekoe, at 40s. and Sos. per Id. OF Nukoi
teas two varieties are shown-the plain Caper and
the plain orange Pekoe. The Canton made teas
include the scented Caper which is scented at great
expense with flowers; the scented orange Pekoe,
each leaf of which is SO twisted that it looks like
wire, small quantity being sufficient to flavor
many pounds OF any other tea. Young Hyson,
small leaf Hyson, Imperial, and Gunpowder, all
very curious, and OF very superior quality. The
Nankn teas comprehend specimens of Twankey,
Hyson, Hyson-s skin, Young Hyson, Imperial, and
Gunpowder, all Of which are the produce of one
plant, and said to be dried, not copper, ac-
cording to the general belief respecting green teas,
but on iron. Under the class of Nankin teas
also exhibited spurious scented Caper and spurious
Gunpowder, made in Canton from tea dust and rice.
water, without leaf Of the plant in them, and APP
propriatey called by the Celestias Gle tcas.'
The Present teas include box of Cumshau, made
up IN the shape OF balls, iaggots, and cigars. The
examples shown seldom to be met with, and
said TO be grown by the priests the different
hills in the tea district. OF the Physic teas the fl-
lowing amusing account is given by Mr. Ripley:
emo is made from the common description of
black teas and is adulterated with herbs il is used
a universal medicine. The cakes made
the 9Th day of the fifth month, Dragons Feast,
at noon, and come from the province of Fokien.
s.No 2 is said to dissolve glutinous Spite, to
dspel huskiness, to quiet troubled feelings, to clear
the mind, TO brighten the vision, TO engender
wholesome moisture in the mouth, to moisten the
lungs its odor is fragrant, its taste savory. This
cake is much used by persons when travelling.
ono 3 is called Sum Kok, and is considered use
tul IN curing variety of complaints; but fevers
and rheumatic attacks are principally mentioned
ON the card.
ssNo. "A tea from the ridge or back of a hill in
the province of Kwangse, called the Dragon's Cav
crn, whence the tea is called Dragons Back Tea.
III ls effectual In quoting troubled feelings, IN as
euaging thirst, removing undgested food dissolv
ing phegm, and enlivening the spirits.
"No. 5 is specimen of the Poo Urh tea, from
the department of that name, in the province of
Yunnan, and is used to prevent indigestion.
@No. 5 Is another specimen from the province of
Yunnan; it is said to be unadulterated with herbs
and is used for the same purpose as No. 5.
''No. 7-Sung- Lo tea cake Sung Lo is in the
province of Ganhway, near Nankin. The virtues of
the tea have been doubled by its being done up into
this cake. tits particularly powerful in removing
all kinds of iniammatory diseases, as also those
arising from the impedcd circulation of the fluids.
emo S--Same No g. only smaller.
s'No is q round cake, also from the province of
Yunnan; used for assisting indigestion. cup
of this tea is found very beneficial in removing
pleton.
emo 10 is called Heong Pien, and is used rs
drink on hot days; it is supposed to cool the
blood.
emo IL : Chin Chew, basket tea called Lok Dan.
This tea is exported largely to Batavia.
"No. l2-Cakes of coarse tea, said to be used af-
ter too lnrge an allowance of Sam Shoe One cup
is supposed to be sufficient TO any ill effects
of the previous nights debauch.''
Looking at this singular specification, which is
said to be translated from the Chinese Chops the
public will be reminded of that favorite quotation
of teetotalisn-' the cup which cheers but not inc.
briates." When the Royal Commission recently
visited Liverpool they inspected among the other
sights of that great seaport the new Albert dock,
and there, in one warehouse, they 90 900 chests
OF tea, which they were assured supplied only one
weeks consumption for the whole country This
gave an immense idea of the tea drinking powers
of our population Let any one, however, go with
the facts which we have just mentioned into a
small space in the very heart of the Chinese
collection, and he will there see, within a few
gllss cascs, about forty different specimens of
the plant, large proportion Of which have
hitherto been unknown even to our most enthusi-
astic teetotallers. she Great Exhibition, among
its other strange revelations, discloses many new
varieties OF favorite beverage, and shows how, in
the Celestial empire, an excessive allowance Of
'Sam Shoo," or the effects of nights debauoh,
may be cured, how ''troubled feelings thirst
and indigestion may be relieved, how the blood
may be cooled, ''the impcded circulation of the
fluids" restored, and the traveller sent on his way
rejoicing Looking at the information which Mr..
Ripley's collection conveys, who can doubt that
the qualities of the tea plant still very imper-
-fectly appreciated among the barbarians Of west
Europe.-English paper.