The origin ofblack .

[Auther name] Tadakazu TAKEO

[Institure and addresse] Central Research Institute of ITO-EN Co. Sagara-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka-ken ,

[Summary] The fermented tea was introduced to European in the beginning of the18th century. The first cargo loading fermented tea called Bohea made port in London harbor from Guang-dong. This was the start of history. Before that, any report on fermented tea was not found in the tea literatures. I could not find the reports on Bohea in Chinese litera­ tures. But I assumed that Bohea might inheit from a fermented tea called Jiang-xi-wu which was made by a mountain tribe (She-tribe) living in Wu-i mountain range. Jiang-xi-wu cha was a domestic tea among She tribe, and some part of tea was bartered between She tribe and Guang dong tea marchants and supplied to Chinese in Guang dong area since the 16 th century. And Jiang­ xi-wu was named Bohea and exported to London in the beginning of the 18th centrury.

[Keywords] Bohea, Black tea, Jiang-xi-wu, Wu-i tea,

Session I -32- [Text] 1) An extraordinary tea made in Wu-i mountain range. In the Wu-imountain range, an extraordinary tea was produced as a home-drink of a mountain living tribe (She tribe, il1:lB~). And some part of the made tea was bartered between She-tribe and Guang-dong tea marchants at Xing village (£ff) in Wu-i mountain side. The tea was called Jiang-xi-wu (¥I[9J~) by chinese. This tea had the appearance of dark brown and the liquid of red yellow. Those characteristics show that Jiang-xi-wu was a fermented tea. 2) The progress of Jiang-xi-wu It was found in the Asia service report wrotten by Father Gspar da Curz in 1556 that a fermented tea was consumed in Guang-dong city. WI was served frequently a hot water called ch' a which had redish liquid and a little bitter taste~ . I assumed that the over mentioned tea might be Jiang-xi­ wu. And I could not find any other reports on fermented tea in Guang-dong area until the end of the 17th century. The next report on fermented tea made in was a news on Bohea sent from Guang-dong to London. I supposed that Bohea might be Jiang-xi-wu which was carried out from Wu-i mountain side by Guang-dong tea merchants and sold to England tea marchants at Guang­ dong harbour. After arriving of the first cargo loading Bohea, the consump-' tion of Bohea increased quickly in Great England. And Bohea occupied the superior position in London tea market in the middle of the 18th century. The progress of Bohea in the world tea market Jiang-xi-wu ~ ~~~~~~Bohea~~~~Black tea before 17th centuey in 19th centry In 20th centry local tea in Wu-i mountain, major tea in London, major world tea,

-33- Session I 3) The etymology of Bohea . As one of the famous places of. production, Wu-i mountain(Jit~L1J) in Fu-Jian province (tI~~) was known very well in China from Song (* )age. And in Quing age(l~), Wu-i rock tea (Jit~E~ ) made by pan ­ firing process was' preferred by many chinese. I supposed that the name of Bohea was born when Jiang­ xi-wu was exported to London. May be, Guang-dong tea marchants introduced Jiang-xi-wu as an excellent tea made in Wu-i (local pronunsation, Bu-i) area to Englan marchants. Then, Jiang-xi-wu was named Bohea. Etymology of Bohea Jit~~~Bu-i (local pronunciation)~~Bohea Wu-i (public pronunciation) 4) The relation between Bohea and Chinese black tea. At first, Jiang-xi-wu was produced as a home drink by She tribe living in Wu-i mountain range. However, after Jiang­ xi-wu in the name of Bohea was exported to London and preferred very much by England people, chinese farmers near Wu-i mountain side begun to make Bohea by learning

She tribe I s skill and established chinese black , Xiao­ zhong (/j\%I) and Cong-fu (I~) tea, in the. 19th century. On the end of 19th century. Then, Assam black tea modeled after chinese black tea's technique was established. Black tea history Wu-i rock tea Jiang-xi-wu in Wu-i mountain area in Wu-i mountain range by Han tribe by She tribe from Quing dynasty unknown ~ ~

~ -E- -E- -E- -E- -E- -E- -E- -E- -E- -E- ~Boh ea Xiao-zhong black tea Cong-fu black tea ~ Indian black tea END

Session I -34-