20 TEA 



into a fine powder. At the same time a quantity 

 of gypsum was burned in the charcoal fires which 

 were then roasting the teas. The gypsum now 

 readily crumbled, and was reduced to powder in the 

 mortar. The two substances having been thus 

 prepared were mixed together in the proportion of 

 four parts of gypsum to three parts of Prussian blue, 

 and formed a light blue powder which was then ready 

 for use. This colouring matter was applied to the tea 

 during the last process of roasting. About five minutes 

 before the tea was removed from the pans, the time 

 being regulated by the burning of a joss stick, the 

 superintendent took a small porcelain spoon, and 

 with it he scattered a portion of the colouring matter 

 over the leaves in each pan. The workmen then 

 turned the leaves rapidly round with both hands, 

 in order that the colour might be equally diffused. 

 During this part of the operation the hands of the 

 workmen were quite blue. If only green tea drinkers 

 could be present to witness the operation ! No wonder 

 the Chinese consider the natives of the West to be a 

 race of barbarians." 



While we are on this subject it is instructive to know 

 that tea comes not only within the scope of the Sale 

 of Food and Drugs Act, but it is also the subject of 

 special provision against its adulteration contained in 

 a series of Statutes of the reigns of George I to III. 

 But these older Statutes were enacted not so much in 

 the interests of the public health as of the revenue. It 

 is an essential prohibition of the modern acts that no 

 person shall sell as unadulterated any article of food or 

 drink which is in fact adulterated. Should he do so 

 he incurs a penalty. Mr. Robert V. Egerton, a retailer, 

 was fined because he sold tea as green tea which had 



