53 



Edible Products. 



becomes. Such is not, however, economy in small factories, and a selection has, 

 therefore, to be made in these cases that will produce the best results for the 

 given class of leaf dealt with. Generally speaking, a division into broken orange 

 pekoe, broken pekoe, and pekoe, is the most economical method of sorting for 

 a small crop, but in some cases an orange pekoe grade is substituted for the 

 broken pekoe. This has the drawback of entailing a large percentage of tannings ; 

 or else the broken orange pekoe is, by the admixture of the orange pekoe tannings, 

 reduced to the level of an ordinary broken pekoe tea. Either alternative is 

 equally unsatisfactory, and therefore the first-mentioned grading may be considered 

 the most suitable for estates of a moderate acreage. The following remarks, 

 while applying to such properties, are, perhaps, more directly of interest to those 

 who can arrange to make at least four grades. 



BROKEN ORANUE PEKOE. 



This is usually the finest and highest priced grade manufactured, and is 

 essentially a " tippy " tea. Liquors are not, as a ride, as strong as in the broken 

 pekoe. The tea should answer to its name by being of an orange pekoe character, 

 though it may contain a certain amount of broken leaf. This latter, however, 

 should not be of a large percentage, and should only consist of the fine quality 

 leaf that may have heen present in the " Dool." The tip ought to be a good colour, 

 and show up well in the tea. With the above characteristics a broken orange 

 pekoe will sell at a most remunerative price in Colombo. Such a tea is suitable 

 for nearly all the markets supplied from Ceylon, and is eagerly sought for by 

 the trade, who are generally ready to pay satisfactory rates for any tea which 

 possesses a sufficient show of tip, and is of even and well rolled appearance. 

 To secure this " tip " in the tea is not an easy matter. The withering, methods 

 of rolling, character of leaf, wet or dry weather, and form of roll-breaker, all 

 exert their influence on the appearance of the grade. 



It may, however, be premised that light-rolling is absolutely necessary 

 for a "tippy" tea. As such is detrimental to the strength of liquor in the other 

 gi-ades, the usual rule is to roll lightly for the first, and possibly the second roll, 

 and to only use the "Dool" from these rolls for the sorting of the broken orange 

 pekoe. This necessarily entails a low percentage outturn, but, provided it be not 

 unreasonably short, and the show of tip be a good one, the fact is of no great 

 importance. The average percentage of a " stand-out " B.O. P. rarely goes beyond 

 18 per cent., and is generally about 12 to 15 per cent, of the crop. Many so- 

 called B.O.P.'s much exceed this outturn, but, if they realise high prices, this is due 

 rather to their liquoring qualities than to any superiority of appearance or grading. 



There is one rather curious point about a B.O. P. that calls for remark. The 

 question of fine, medium, or coarse medium plucking (I speak of course of com- 

 mercial samples, and not of " fancy " teas) does not effect the outturn of " tip " 

 in this tea to anything like the extent usually thought possible. In fact, with 

 medium plucking, a very fair show of " tip," quite equal to that obtained by 

 fine plucking, is often produced. This is due to the fact that the roll -breaker 

 sifting to a great extent separates the coarse and fine leaf. The character of the 

 leaf, whether off tea, young or old, from pruning, the methods of plucking 

 employed, and the richness of the soil, have much more to say to the question 

 than the actual quality of the leaf taken into the factory. The wither is also of very 

 great importance, though herein that which is most suitable for the manufacture 

 of really " tippy " teas is as a rule by no means the best for cup quality. 



A good deal yet remains to be done in the improvement of roll-breakers. 

 The latter, as usually supplied, are, generally speaking, unsatisfactory in their 

 working, the sifting of the leaf being very incomplete. A quicker vibration, but 



