[ad. Chinese siao-chung (Cantonese siu-chung) small sort.] One of the finer varieties of black tea. Also attrib.
1760. Ann. Reg., 132. The East-India ships … have brought … 62,900 [lb.] of souchong.
1777. Abigail Adams, in Fam. Lett. (1876), 313. I feel as contented when I have breakfasted upon milk as ever I did with Hyson or Souchong.
1803. Phil. Trans., XCIII. 268. An ounce of Souchong tea produced 48 grains of tannin.
1850. E. FitzGerald, Lett. (1889), I. 208. Now, animated by some very inferior Souchong from the village shop, I continue my letter.
1870. Dickens, E. Drood, vi. He finished his breakfast as if the flavour of the Superior Family Souchong … were a little on the wane.
