The great
object appears to be to prevent the leaf from breaking; hence, in the
commoner kinds and those intended for home consumption, which do not
receive the same care, the leaves are found to be very much broken. In
fact, the preparation of this latter sort is very simple: a mere drying
in the sun, after which it presents a dry, broken appearance, like
autumn leaves.
Green tea, although grown in particular districts, receives its
peculiar color by being stirred with a mixture of gypsum and Prussian
blue during the firing, but is prepared in a more laborious manner, the
leaves being selected and divided to form the different kinds known as
Imperial, Gunpowder, Young Hyson, Hyson, Hyson Skin and Twankay. An
aggregation of these kinds, proportioned according to their value,
forms what is known as a "chop," whereas a chop of black tea comprises
all of one grade or quality. Chinamen wonder at the taste of "outside
barbarians" in preferring a tea colored green, but would provide them
with a leaf of yellow or blue if there was a market for it.
[Illustration: ONE OF THE SING-SONG GIRLS.]
The entire operation pertaining to the business appeared to be carried
on in the cluster of little buildings with court-yards between, but
almost under the same roof, and afforded occupation to an immense
number of persons.
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