1869 Cooling Cups and Dainty drinks by William Terrington

131

Tea.

used as Twankay, Hyson, and Gunpowder (the finest con- sists of the unopened leaf-bud of the green variety of the Thea ) . Cowslip Hyson is flavoured by mixing with it the berries of Chlomnthus, or by alternate layers of tea and dried cowslip flowers, and then (says Liebig) is not a matter of mere habit, but it is in some degree essential, it being a ques- tion if Ave had neither tea nor coffee, Avhether the popular instinct would not soon crave for, and find some substitute.” Raynal observes, “ The use of tea has contributed more to the sobriety of the Chinese than the severest laws, the most eloquent discourses, or the best treatise on morality.” Its social properties no one understood better than Cowper, who thus eulogizes a comfortable evening at home : to scent Soucliong teas. Green teas, sifted. Black tea has more sedative, green more stimulating, properties. “ The use of tea and coffee

Now stir tlie fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And while the bubbling and loud-hissing urn Throws up a steamy column, and the cups That cheer but not inebriate wait on each So let us welcome peaceful evening in.

A Chinese legend relates, that a pious hermit, who, in his Avatchings and prayers, had often been K 2