CHEMICAL ANALYSIS 21 



been painted or faced with gypsum and Prussian blue 

 in China for the purpose of colouring it. It was no 

 defence that such tea was known in the trade generally 

 as green tea. 



Every imported consignment of tea is examined by 

 the Customs Authorities on its arrival in London, and 

 it is of great interest as showing how particular the 

 producers are, to only send tea fit for consumption, 

 that during the Customs year which ended 31st March, 

 1907, it was only found necessary to draw and analyse 

 2,205 samples from the immense importation of nearly 

 318,000,000 pounds, as teas being possibly unfit for 

 consumption. Of the samples which were eventually 

 analysed, 368 (representing only 449 packages) were 

 refused admission for the ordinary use of the public. 

 408 packages were allowed to be exported or used in the 

 manufacture of caffeine, while forty-one packages were 

 ordered to be destroyed as unfit for any use. In all 

 probability the forty-one packages were merely teas 

 country damaged, which had escaped the notice of 

 inspectors at the ports of shipment, and it may be taken 

 as absolutely established that there was no attempt 

 at wilful adulteration. 



