CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION. IOI 



Japan Imperials, Gunpowders and Young Hy- 

 sons Differ only from the ordinary Japan teas in form, 

 make and color. Being prepared from the same leaf, 

 they naturally possess the same general characteristics 

 and cup qualities; the demand not justifying, they are not 

 produced in any appreciable quantities. 



The production of tea in Japan is constantly increasing 

 and its quality improving, a wider area being devoted to 

 its cultivation each year, largely superseding sericulture 

 in many districts. The total area now under cultivation 

 amounts to nearly 42,000 Cko t or about 100,000 acres. 

 The total annual product is estimated at 100,000,000 

 pounds, a gain of over 30,000,000 as compared with 

 1 890, of which 40,000,000 pounds, or 44 per cent, of the 

 total production was consumed in the United States 

 during the fiscal year of 1891. The American taste for 

 Japan teas continues to grow in proportion, particularly 

 in the Northwestern and Pacific States, their consumption 

 in this country nearly doubling that of Oolongs and 

 Congous combined, and trebling that of Green teas of 

 all makes. This too, notwithstanding the fact that only 

 a very small proportion of really choice Japan teas are 

 ever exported, rarely exceeding one per cent, of the 

 entire crop, being principally retained for home con- 

 sumption. 



One of the most remarkable circumstances in connec- 

 tion with the development of the Tea trade is the rapid 

 increase in the production and consumption of India Teas. 

 Almost unknown to commerce thirty years ago, they 

 are fast becoming an important factor in the busi- 

 ness, particularly in the English and colonial markets, 

 India being already of such importance to them as a 

 source of tea supply that it is only a question of a very 



