Tea 



149 



with 150,000,000 lbs. worth nearly £3,390,000, followed at a long distance by Japan with 

 59,000,000 lbs., valued at^541,000, Java with 18,600,000 lbs., valued at £395,000, Formosa with 

 18,000,000 lbs., valued at £211,000, and Natal and the Caucasus with comparatively trifling 

 ajtyiiint s.' . .■ ; ; f | {yi 

 C^**yQ Tmuch,V then; for the principal producing countries. When we turn our attention 

 #o the countries and peoples who consume this enormous quantity of beverage-making material, 

 we find that heading the list as the greatest tea importers of the world are the people 

 of the United Kingdom. During the last few years the annual import of tea from 

 all sources into this country has averaged no less than 255,1 12,000 lbs., costing us 

 £8,683,000 ! We are followed by Russia, which annually receives about 126,000,000 lbs., the 

 United States with 81,389,000 lbs., followed by Holland, Australia, Canada, Germany and 

 New Zealand with much smaller amounts. 



To us, as English people, a most important question in connection with the world's tea' 

 industry is, to what extent is the British-grown article displacing from the world's market 

 the product of our only serious rival, China ? Let us consider, the state of affairs in some 

 of the chief consuming countries. In the United States and -Canada the taste for British- 

 grown teas appears to have taken a firm hold. The quantity sent direct from Calcutta to 

 Canada in 1904 was thirty-five per cent, higher than in 1903. Further, black teas from China 

 have practically disappeared from the Canadian market, and in all probability the green -teas 

 from Japan, which at present are very popular in America, will follow them in a few years'; 

 for since Ceylon green tea was introduced in 1899 the imports from Japan have decreased 

 from eleven to four million pounds. • "? • • 



JAPANESE WOMEN PLUCKING TEA 



