=Sunglo=—Famous in China at one time as the district where Green teas
were first produced, and which were for centuries the finest grown in
that country. Latterly, however, it has greatly declined as a
tea-producing district, the quality also degenerating at the same time,
much of that now sold as “true Sunglo” being only so in name. They are
what is known to trade as “Hill” or high-district tea, natural green in
color, exceedingly well made and prepared, yielding a rich,
straw-colored liquor, clear and sparkling in the cup, fragrant and
aromatic in flavor. The infused leaf is small, symmetrical and uniform
to a high degree, in fact almost perfect in shape, an invariable
indication of youthfulness, fineness and tenderness.
=Mo-Yuen=—Known to trade as “Moyune,” now produces the bulk of the best
Green teas received from China. Grown principally on the plains or
lowlands adjacent to Sunglo from which fact they are sometimes termed
“Garden teas” in contradistinction to the upland or “hill teas,” and to
which they are inferior in make, liquor, and flavor. They are of three
kinds—“Nankin,” “Pakeong,” and “Oochaine”—so named from the “_piens_” or
localities in which they are raised.
=Nankin Moyune=—Is the most valuable, intrinsically and commercially,
being superior to the others in make, color, draw and drink. The dried
leaf is firmly rolled or curled according to “make,” rich, natural green
in color, and extremely uniform in general appearance. The infusion of
the finer grades is light golden in tint, brisk, and pungent in body,
and possessing a flavor peculiar to itself, technically termed “toasty.”
It is deceptive in drink owing to its light color in the cup, the body
being full and heavy, the infused leaf is small, but regular and
well-shaped and of a light-green hue.
=Pakeong=—Differs from Nankin in many respects, though grown in the same
district. The dry leaf is larger and more open, being what is termed
“loosely made,” duller in color and not as highly fired. The finer
grades, however, yield a rich, ripe liquor, comparatively light in color
and delicate in flavor, but lacking in that “toastiness” for which the
former are so much admired.
=Oochaine=—Is a small leaf tea, generally darker in color, heavier in
body and more pungent in flavor, but owing to its small size and
imperfect preparation not as well appreciated as it deserves.
=Hy-chows=—Though raised in the adjoining district to Moyune are
nevertheless much inferior to them in both leaf and liquor. The dry
leaf, while firmly made and regular in form, silvery-green in color and
considered attractive in appearance, is still very deceptive and lacking
in cup qualities. The infusion, although darker in color and fairly
pungent, is light in body and devoid of fragrance, the infused leaf
being dark, coarse and irregular.
=Fy-chows=—Are bold and rough in general appearance, dull in color, dark
and heavy in liquor, and somewhat astringent in flavor, and on the whole
an undesirable sort.
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