TESTING, BLENDING AND PREPARING. 1 71 



future ruin of the dealer himself, but it also produces the 

 effect of disgusting the public and casting discredit on 

 tea as an article of food. While, on the other hand, if the 

 dealer make a comparatively small but necessary sacrifice 

 for the sake of future gain by selling Tea that is tea and 

 be content with a fair and legitimate profit, satisfaction will 

 be given to his customers, trade fostered and the con- 

 sumption of this now most important food auxiliary 

 increased at least two-fold in this country. 



" Standard Chop," or " celebrated district " teas, should 

 always be selected when possible, and " first-crop" for high- 

 grade teas, as first-crop teas are invariably superior (ex- 

 cept in the case of Formosas) to the later pickings in flavor, 

 aroma and keeping properties, due to the larger amount 

 of theine and volatile oil which they contain, and possess- 

 ing every quality except weight for which tea is valued 

 or appreciated. To do this it will be necessary for the 

 dealer to ascertain which " chop " is the best and which 

 district has yielded the best picking during the current 

 season, thereby making quality as well as quantity the 

 test of excellence. For, as with wheat and other 

 crops, the tea crop also varies according to the season 

 and curing ; some years being highly successful in one 

 district while it may be a comparative failure in another, 

 The " Tong-lees" may be heavy and flavory this year, 

 thin and flavorless the next ; while the " Tong-mows," 

 or some other " chop," inferior in leaf and liquor 

 last season may possess all the most desirable qualities 

 this. Green teas, Japans, Congous, Souchongs, India, 

 Ceylons and all varieties of tea being equally subject to 

 these variations So that the advantages to be derived 

 from a careful selection of the best " chop " and " district" 

 teas of the season, with but slight consideration, will be 

 manifest to the intelligent dealer in tea. 



