Also congo, kongo. [ad. Chinese kung-fu work, and workman, kung-fu-ch‘a app. tea on which work or labor is expended. The omission of the f is the foreigner’s corruption (Prof. Legge).] A kind of black tea imported from China.
1725. Lond. Gaz., No. 6376/3. Next Week will be sold, a large Parcel of Bohee, with some Congou and Green Tea.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., V. i. Congou tea, avadavats, and Indian crackers.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, VI. viii. A-swelling the receipt of customs by the consumption of Congo!
1875. Pavy, Food & Dietetics (ed. 2), 349. The chief varieties of black tea, arranged in [an upward order of excellence] are Bohea, Oolong, Congou, Campoi, [etc.].
