RUSSIAN TEA BLENDS.
The Russians, who are a nation of Tea drinkers and use as much tea per head as the Chinese themselves, consume principally China Souchongs and the better grades of Congous, their blends and combinations being chiefly composed of these varieties, so that in sections populated with Russians, Russian Jews and Poles the appended specimens will suffice for their use:—
No. 1.
Intended for a cheap, strong, full-bodied Tea is composed of
| Parts. | Varieties. | Price. |
| 1 | Common Moning Congou | @ |
| 1 | Common Kaisow Congou | @ |
| 3 | Common Lapsing Souchong | @ |
| Average cost | ||
No. 2.
A good, heavy-bodied medium Tea is formed as follows:—
| Parts. | Varieties. | Price. |
| 1 | Padrae Congou | @ |
| 1 | Assam Pekoe-Souchong | @ |
| 3 | Lapsing Souchong | @ |
| Average cost | ||
No. 3.
| Parts. | Varieties. | Price. |
| 1 | Kaisow Congou | @ |
| 1 | Ning-chow Congou | @ |
| 1 | China Orange Pekoe | @ |
| 3 | Lapsing Souchong | @ |
| Average cost | ||
No. 4.
Latterly, however, India and Ceylons are coming more into use in this country with this class of trade, so that combinations of China, India and Ceylons, such as the following, are very popular among them.
| Parts. | Varieties. | Price. |
| 2 | India Congou | @ |
| 4 | Lapsing Souchong | @ |
| 4 | Ceylon Souchong | @ |
| Average cost | ||
No. 5.
| Parts. | Varieties. | Price. |
| 1 | India Souchong | @ |
| 1 | Ceylon Souchong | @ |
| 6 | Lapsing Souchong | @ |
| Average cost | ||
In Russia the Samovar, or tea pot, is always steaming, and the natives never cease drinking tea while there is water left to prepare it. It is served at all hours of the day, in palace as well as hovel; shops abound for its sale in all the principal cities, all business transactions being made and sealed over steaming goblets of Tea. But however great the number or wide the divergence in the liquors and flavors of the combinations here given, wherever knowledge and judgment is brought to bear on the subject, success is sure to follow the efforts of the dealer; and although the majority of the foregoing blends have been found exceedingly good by actual experience, there is still ample room for other combinations by the progressive Tea-blender as well as for great improvements upon those that are presented here.