Blended teas are the rule in England, where the skillful mixing of tea
has become an art, very little, if any tea being sold to consumers that
is not mixed or blended in some manner, every dealer, both wholesale and
retail being identified with or noted for some particular flavored tea.
Many of the blends sold in London, although differing widely in
character, are most skilfully and scientifically combined, the greatest
care being taken that no tea is introduced which might act detrimentally
upon any other tea in the blend. The majority of these blends are
markedly distinct, almost opposite, the chief features of one being a
rough, strong, but ripe Saryune Congou, that of another being an
even-leafed, delicate-flavored Chingwo, the base of a third being a
plain Ningchow or fruity Oonfa, to which is added an Assam Pekoe or
Souchong to increase its thickness and pungency as well as give tone to
the mixture, together with a small quantity of low-priced Kaisow to
reduce its cost. But however great the divergence in the blends,
whenever knowledge and judgment have been brought to bear on the subject
success has followed in its wake, and although the most of the
combinations are exceedingly popular there is still ample room for the
introduction of others as well as for improvements upon those that are
at present in use.
=14.= The following is a very popular London blend, and will be duly
appreciated among English residents generally: 3 pounds Kaisow Congou, 2
pounds Souchong, 2 pounds Assam, 1 pound Pekoe and 1 pound Foochow
Oolong. The foundation of this combination as will be observed, is
composed of China Congous, the Souchong enriching, the Assam giving
sharpness and pungency, the Oolong softening and mellowing and the Pekoe
imparting aroma and piquancy to the entire.
=15.= Another English blend, cheaper, and consequently not as
satisfactory, is composed as follows: 6 pounds Ningchow, 6 pounds Oonfa
and 5 pounds Cachar or Darjeeling Congous, 5 pounds Oolong, 1 pound
Caper and 1 pound Pekoe. The Congous forming the base of this blend
being lacking in strength, an extra quantity of Cachar is required to
“bring them up,” while the equal quantity of Oolong softens and the
Scented teas give a tone to the high-toasty flavor of the India.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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