PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF INDIAN TEA. 175 



I think I can explain some of these anomalies. 



Tea is an acquired taste : by which I mean, not only 

 that the adult who had never tasted Tea would not like it 

 when first offered to him, but also that, with those who 

 consume it regularly, any Tea that differs in flavour from 

 what is habitually drunk is not relished. 



It matters not whether it is intrinsically better or worse, 

 enough that the flavour is different, for that reason it is not 

 liked. 



Indian Tea differs widely from Chinese Tea, and for that 

 reason is rarely appreciated by those accustomed to the latter. 



For a long time it appeared as if this difficulty would be 

 a bar to the general introduction of Indian Teas in England, 

 and so indeed it would have proved, had the short-sighted 

 policy adopted at the commencement by one or two Indian 

 Companies that their Teas should be sold retail and pure, 

 that is, unmixed with Chinese, been followed out. It did 

 not avail to tell John Bull it was better Tea, that it was far 

 stronger, that it was in no way adulterated ; for he simply 

 shook his head, the flavour was different to what use had 

 made him familiar with, and he would none of it. 



But little by little, in spite of the above, it made its way. 

 Grocers soon found that the worst, id est, the weakest class 

 of Chinese Teas received body and were made saleable by an 

 addition of Indian Tea. It was not long after this that the 

 trade discovered that pretty well all Chinese Teas were im- 

 proved, if proportions of Indian Teas were mixed with them. 

 In short, the fact was recognised by Tea vendors that Chinese 

 Teas were weak, and much improved if mixed with Indian. 



The public were thus educated to relish the superior 



Chinese Teas in 1877, while pressing hard on the Indian producer, has 

 certainly had the one good effect for him of making Indian Teas more widely 

 known. They are generally known now, in many cases sold pure as Indian 

 Tea, and used by all retail dealers to give the body or strength lacking in 

 most Chinese kinds. 



