Tea, Its Mystery and History

The treatise surveys tea from legendary Chinese origins through its introduction and adoption in England, combining botanical description, trade and commercial history, and practical guidance for appreciation and preparation. It considers leaf varieties, methods of blending and colouring, warehousing and labelling practices, and the social and alleged health virtues of the beverage, concluding with instructions for making a cup. A Chinese-language preface and an extract from a visitor's journal offer contemporary impressions of blending and export practices. Chapters progress from myth and botany to commerce, culture, and domestic use.