512 Mr. Warington on the Green Teas of Commerce. 



are greatly adulterated, and that with ingredients injurious to 

 health, especially if too much of these ingredients be added. 

 This is especially the case with the green tea, in order to im- 

 prove the colour ; and in this manner to add to the value of 

 tea in the eyes of the common consumers. 



" Visitor. Are these ingredients known ? 



" Superintendent. Most of them are certainly known ; they 

 have been communicated to government (we presume the 

 Dutch government), while at the same time the privilege has 

 been requested that they might not be employed here ; and al- 

 though this occasions loss, the request has* been granted, and 

 it has been ordered by government that not the least admix- 

 ture should take place, either to improve the colour or taste 

 of the tea, even in such cases where this might be desirable." 



Dr. Royle states*, " The Chinese in the neighbourhood of 

 Canton are able to prepare a tea which can be coloured and 

 made up to imitate various qualities of green tea; and large 

 quantities are thus yearly made up." And Dr. Dickson f, — 

 " The Chinese annually dry many millions of pounds of the 

 leaves of different plants to mingle with the genuine, as those 

 of the ash, plum, &c, so that all spurious leaves found in 

 parcels of bad tea must not be supposed to be introduced into 

 them by dealers in this country. While the tea trade was 

 entirely in the hands of the East India Company few of these 

 adulterated teas were shipped for this country, as experienced 

 and competent inspectors were kept at Canton, to prevent the 

 exportation of such in the Company's ships; but since the 

 trade has been opened all kinds find a ready outlet, and as the 

 demand often exceeds the supply, a manufactured article is 

 furnished to the rival crews." 



During these investigations I have received samples of teas, 

 both green and black, imported into this country from China, 

 which are known, by the most experienced brokers, not to 

 contain a single leaf of tea, and which were sold at public sale 

 in bond at from lfrf. to 2o". per pound. 



Again, — " The green tea for exportation undergoes some 

 process which changes its colour, giving it a bluish green 

 hue." 



Mr. Davis J gives the following important information on 

 this subject: — "The tea farmers§, who are small proprietors 

 or cultivators, give the tea a rough preparation, and then take 

 it to the contractors, whose business it is to adapt its further 

 preparation to the existing nature of the demand." 



* Article Thea in the ' Penny Cyclopaedia.' 



f Article Thea, Medical and Dietetical, * Penny Cyclopaedia.' 



J Davis's ' Chinese.' § Vol. ii. p. 458. 



