130 / 244
TEMPERATE
BEVERAGES.
—
TEA.
Tea
is
the
decoction
made
from
the
dried
leaves
of
the
varieties
of the
plant
Thea,
which
is
a
native
of
Japan
and
China,
known
as
Thea,
Bohea,
and
Thea
Vi/ridis,
and
another
species,
Thea
Assamica,
commonly
called
Assam
tea,
grown
in
Assam
in
the
Presidency
of
Bengal.
In
growth
and
form
of
leaf
the
plant
resembles
the myrtle.
Its
blossoms
are
white,
similar
to
our wild
rose,
and
very
fra-
grant.
The
seeds
of
the
berries
yield
an
aromatic
oil.
Tea
contains
theine,
an
alkaloid
similar
to
caffeine
and
theobroma.
The
best
known
varieties
are,
of
black
teas,
Bohea,
Congou,
Souchong,
and
Pekoe.
Orange
pekoe
owes
its
delicious
perfume
and
flavour
to
being
scented
with
the
blossoms
of
an
olive
(
Olea
fragrans
)
;
and
the
flowers
of
the
Tasminum
sambic
and
Gardenia
fiorida
are
also