oopack

A kind of black tea.

Oopacks is a general term covering the teas of Hupeh Province, the word being a derivation of the name Hupeh in the Canton dialect. Because of their similar quality and sale on the Hankow market, teas produced in the Hsiangying, Wuchang, Hanyang, and Hwangchow Districts of Hunan also are known as Oopacks. Other North China blacks of lesser importance include the following: Hupeh Province [Oopacks] Cheongshukai Tai Sar Ping Sienning Tong Shan Wun Kai Puchi Yanglotung Packong Kianghan Yang Low Sa Chang Yang Kiangnan Soon Young Tsung Yang Sung Yang Hofong Hangyang Hunan [Oonams]

Synonym of Hubei: the Cantonese-derived name.

Such eagerness and competition as this, regardless of quality and almost of price, is the fruitful encouragement to teamen of carelessness in the manufacture of both the tea and the packages. The result has proved that in all the Oopack (Hoopeh) districts, this carelessness had already commenced, and the competitive rush had been well anticipated by the teamen; for the teas turned out to have been hurriedly prepared; much mixed with old leaves of the previous year’s growth; quite unfit for the long journey before them; and packed in chests much too frail for their increased bulk. It was supposed here that the teas from one or two of the Oopack districts were superior, and of proper quality, but the result proved that from all the so-called Oopack districts (though one of them is in Hoonan) of Yang-low-tung, Yang-low-see, Nep-ka-see, Lung-yaong, and Chang-so-kiè, the yield has been inferior.

The postal advices from Hankow relative to Season 1877-78 state that the Shensi traders (Chinese), who have hitherto packed teas in the Oopack Province for the overland trade, via Kiachta, to the great fair held annually at Nichni Novgorod, this season prepared them for shipment to Russia, via the Canal, and this doubtless accounts for the rumours of the full supply offering at Hankow, a large portion of which is evidently destined for immediate transhipment from hence to Russia.