TESTING, BLENDING AND PREPARING. 177 



those who had the dispensing of the article to the public. 

 Some dealers had marked success in this branch of the 

 business, while others again who attempted it failed com- 

 pletely in their efforts to produce any satisfactory results, 

 the end accomplished being, instead of an improvement, 

 an injury to the quality and value of the tea combined, 

 often to such an extent that ordinary plain teas would 

 have pleased better at less labor and cost. The cause of 

 this failure was due alone to the want of that necessary 

 training and experience which would enable the dealer 

 to understand the characteristics and affinities of both 

 the teas which are improved and those which are deteri- 

 orated by blending together. The knowledge and skill 

 required for this particular branch of the tea business is 

 only attained in perfection by numerous tests and con- 

 stant experiments which are performed by mixing from 

 two to five or more samples of tea, differing in variety, 

 character and quality, alternately changing, altering and 

 substituting them until the dealer has succeeded in pro- 

 ducing a tea unique in character, the body, flavor and 

 aroma of which will prove more pleasing and satisfactory 

 to a majority of his patrons, at a more moderate cost, 

 identified with himself and differing in every respect from 

 that of any tea offered by his competitors. And after he 

 has succeeded in his efforts he must be careful to keep 

 it as uniform as possible, never allowing even his em- 

 ployees to know of what teas his combination is formed. 

 By following these precautions he becomes noted for keep- 

 ing a tea that cannot be secured elsewhere and one which, 

 after his customers become once educated to that especial 

 flavor, will not be satisfied with any other. 



" The world moves " and the American tea dealer 

 should move with it, as time and experience has proved 

 beyond dispute that skilful and judicious Tea-blending 



